Our Family Before Cricket Died

This is my family. This picture was taken a few years ago. This was when we had Cricket - our first Boston Terrier. She is sitting on Drew's lap in the middle front. We knew she was going down hill pretty quick. The tumors in her neck were restricting her breathing, and she just wasn't doing too well, so we decided we must get a family picture with her in it.

We had to put her to sleep about a week after this picture was taken. We still ache in our hearts for her.

You can see that McGwire was just a year or so old, Terrapin even looked young here too... and who is that good looking orange tabby cat in the back with me? Why, that was El Gatto. He died a few years after this picture was taken. He was the best cat we ever had. He was named "El Gatto" because Linz was taking Spanish in school, and came home one day after school and swept El Gatto up into her arms, held him over her head, and said "Guess what I learned in Spanish today!? EL GATTO!!!" I don't even remember what he was named before then... LOL. El Gatto he was, and El Gatto he stayed.

We miss our pets when they die. We've kept all of their tags and collars, and we never let their memory dim in our hearts. Animals make our lives full. We love them so.

So, here's to you Cricket. Make sure you're chasing some bunnies for me up there k? And Gatto? If this was big number "9", hang out, and we'll all be there soon. If not, and you're hanging out with another family somewhere? We're the people whose ears you nurse on in your dreams. We miss you too...

This is me... take it or leave it.