Archive for the ‘Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia’ Category
23November2008
Ditto Felis Catus Cabanela (May 1991 - November 23, 2008)
Posted at 11:26 PM by Juan.
Categories: Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia
Earlier today, we had to place Ditto, our 17 year old tabby cat, to sleep. She was preceded in death by her littermate, Sokrates, in 2004. Ditto was adopted by Juan in Tucson, Arizona in early 1992 when she was about 8 months old. Juan’s neighbor had had a cat illegally in her apartment and it had a litter of cats. Juan adopted Sokrates and Ditto, the last two cats left to adopt in that litter, and they joined him (also illegally) in his apartment so that the neighbor wouldn’t get kicked out. Ditto would travel with Juan from Arizona to Minneapolis (where she moved twice) to Saint Paul (where she moved three times) to Saint Cloud (moving twice) to Pennsylvania and back to Saint Cloud to Fargo, and finally to Moorhead. Ditto has been part of Juan’s life for the last 16 years, outliving her brother by over 4 years.
For the last year, Ditto has been suffering from a failing immune system. She had a viral cold that just never got better. She had been steadily losing weight and muscle tone. In the past few weeks, she had been having trouble controlling her bowels. She passed away, comforted by Juan, at the Fargo-Moorhead Emergency Veterinary Center, where she was euthanized.
Carolina was pretty shaken up by the death, although she was brave and she helped her father bury Ditto in the backyard (it was after nightfall here, so Dad had to dig a pretty big hole in the dark, Carolina held the light). Carolina cried going to sleep tonight. I (Juan) don’t feel so good either. For the first time in 16 years, for the first time since my first year of graduate school, I am without a cat.
Hoy, hemos tenido que dejar a Ditto, nuestro gato de 17 años, a morir. Ella fue precedida en la muerte por su hermano, Sokrates, en 2004. Ditto fue adoptado por Juan en Tucson, Arizona a principios de 1992 cuando tenía alrededor de 8 meses de edad. Un vecino de Juan tuvo un gato ilegalmente en su apartamento y había una camada de gatos. Juan adopto Sokrates y Ditto, los últimos dos gatos, y se unieron con él (también ilegalmente) en su apartamento. Ditto viajo con Juan desde Arizona a Minneapolis (donde se movío dos veces) a Saint Paul (donde se movío tres veces) a Saint Cloud (movímos dos veces) a Pennsylvania y de vuelta a Saint Cloud a Fargo, y finalmente a Moorhead. Ditto ha sido parte de la vida de Juan durante los últimos 16 años, pasando su hermano por más de 4 años.
Para el último año, Ditto ha sufrido un defecto del sistema inmunológico. Ella tenía un virus que nunca se hacía mejor. Ella había ido perdiendo peso y tono muscular. Durante las últimas semanas, había estado teniendo problemas para controlar sus intestinos. Ella falleció, confortado por Juan, en el Centro de Veterinaria Emergencia de Fargo-Moorhead, donde fue eutanasia.
Carolina fue muy triste por la muerte, aunque ella fue valiente y ella ayudó a su Aita enterrar a Ditto en el patio trasero (que fue después de la noche aquí, así que Aita tuvo que hacer un agujero bastante grande en la oscuridad, Carolina apoyó la luz). Carolina lloro a dormir esta noche. Yo (Juan) no me siento muy bien tampoco. Por primera vez en 16 años, por primera vez desde mi primer año de graduado escolar, estoy sin un gato.
22November2008
Zakari gets stylish eyewear
Posted at 4:48 PM by Juan.
Categories: Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia, Zakari
For those of you who didn’t know, screening at Ellen Hopkins Elementary revealed Zakari had some mild, but significant vision problems. This was confirmed by the doctors at MeritCare and so this week, Zakari got glasses. He was so excited about getting them and has been drawing pictures of himself with the glasses since getting them. He’s looking forward to showing them off to his bespectacled Cousin Colin on Thanksgiving weekend.
Para los de vosotros que no sabies, un examen en la escuela que Zakari revelo que Zakari tiene algun problema con la visión. Esto fue confirmada por los doctores en el hospital, así que esta semana, Zakari consiguió sus propíos gafas. Él era muy excitado sobre conseguirlos y sus nuevos dibujos autobiograficos contienen gafas pequeñas. El espera demostrarlos a su primo con gafas Colin el fin de semana de Thanksgiving.
22September2008
Going to the Chapel
Posted at 9:09 PM by Juan.
Categories: Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia
Recently we were going to the Chapel to watch our old friend Leah get married. Here’s Catherine commemoration of our trip to Green Bay for the wedding.
5July2008
This Summer at Woman Lake
Posted at 7:38 PM by Juan.
Categories: Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia, The Twins / Los Gemelos
Every summer since returning to Minnesota from Pennsylvania, we have taken the week of July 4th to go to Woman Lake Lodge with Catherine’s extended family (truth be told, its our sister-in-law’s step-mother’s family that’s been going there for 60 years!). Here’s the view of Bungey Bay from the beach at the resort:
Its a prime example of the beauty of what’s “Up North” in Minnesota. This year, the kids were completely and utterly ready, counting down the days until we “go to the cabin”. We spent the week relaxing in mostly wonderful weather. The kids got to play with their cousins and the adults got to relax. It was great fun. Here’s a couple of pictures of the week’s activities:
Zakari (with his cousin Colin holding a play fishing pole in the background) showing his best “Why did you interrupt me when I was showing CoIin how to cast out a fishing line” face.
Carolina getting ready to re-enter the brisk lake water.
Carolina, Zakari, and their cousin Ben compare heights.
An example of the wildlife found at Woman Lake (”Papa Bill” got wonderful pictures of the Bald Eagles, Loons, and Herons he spotted during his boat rides around the lake).
Zakari and his cousin Colin preferred riding in the front of the boat during our sunset boat rides each evening.
Carolina and her cousin Ben confirm the boat isn’t about the crash by careful examination of the depth finder.
This is why we go on sunset boat rides at Woman Lake.
Carolina actually went water skiing (more like water “boarding”, in that the boat dragged the board and she hung on to it, but she insisted it was fun.
Aita and Zak went for a jetski ride around the lake which Zakari ended up declaring “awesome.”
Not to be outdone, Catherine and Carolina also jetted around the lake as well.
12June2008
Catherine’s Cabanela Artwork / Los Cabanelas en forma de Arte de Catherine
Posted at 3:41 PM by Juan.
Categories: Family News / Noticias sobre la Familia
Catherine is an amazing digital scrapbook artist (so say I, her husband and digital scrapbook admirer). For the last few years, she has put together calendars featuring our children and family. Here are a few of her more recent calendar pages: / Catherine es una increíble artista digital. Durante los últimos años, se ha creado unos calendarios de nuestros hijos y familia. Aquí teneís algunos de sus más recientes páginas del calendario:
[Catherine wanted me to note that many of the graphical elements in the above images were from CottageArts and they should get the credit for the artistry of those items.]
And here are some “goodbye” notes to the kids pre-school teachers (yes, the kids actually dictated the notes to Catherine) / Y aquí hay algunas notas de los niños para despidir de los instructores pre-escolares (sí, los chicos efectivamente dictaron las notas a Catherine)
