Meet Sitka, our new fish. This morning when I woke up to start the coffee, I looked for Beta who usually greets meet with his morning fish face. He was not there. No Beta in the tank. Speedy and Johnny Cash the snails were there, but no sign of any fish anywhere. I looked around the bowl, on the counter and on the floor- no Beta. I looked over at Ellie and she stared at me strangely, not willing to even lift her head. I woke David and asked if he had seen Beta, but he had no idea. He joined me in the futile search. I searched multiple times and finally came to the conclusion that Beta jumped ship. Because there was no body to be found, I guess that maybe Ellie heard the fish jumping commotion and gulped Beta down. I felt some sadness. I will miss Beta. He loved his food and I fed him, so I like to think we had a special connection. Now my thoughts turned to how do we tell Maren? We have no body to prove his passing. I certainly can't tell her that maybe Ellie ate him or Ellie would certainly be written off in Maren's book. I stewed about it all day, hoping Maren would not notice the missing fish. At dinner, we told her. Beta had jumped the bowl and we sent him back to the ocean. We went right to The Pet Zoo and picked a new fish. Maren cried and talked about how she liked Beta and we all shared our Beta memories. Maren even reminicsed about the two betas before Beta #3. Maren chose Beta #4 and named him Beta. She rode with him in the bag on her lap all the way home and changed his name to Sitka. Before I could finish this posting, she changed his name again to Buttercup. So we welcome Buttercup to the family. Rest in peace Beta- you were a good fish.
This kitty came over last night from across the street. Seems like it is used to spending a lot of time at our house. We had to barricade the front door so it wouldn't come in. It does not seem to understand what "dog" means. Ellie and Marker would only be too happy to show the kitty. The kitty has been a perfect playmate for Maren- chase, pounce, stalk and attack!
Kitty came back this morning for another round of attack the rope! 
First dinner on the patio...pizza picnic!
Her room is getting set up.
Maren is all "cozied up." She is in her new bed!
It is calling to me...
Good night Ellie!
Sweet dreams Marker!
Good morning- first breakfast!
More baby-themed play from Maren. She discovered this "giant rabbit " in our living room and a good thing it was as Maren announced "This mama rabbit is about to have babies!"
Ellie nurses her just delivered baby rabbits, Peter and Cottontail.
Ellie jumps right in and gives her newborn baby rabbit a good cleaning.
The Paper Princess tells the story of a little girl who makes a paper princess doll and it gets blown away by the wind. After some adventure, she finds her way back to the girl. The kids listened to the story with eyes and ears wide open and all agreed that their paper dolls would NOT blow away. They had a ball making their own versions. 
Busy, busy.
Kids and their paper friends.
A paper princess, a paper fairy and a paper cowboy gnome.
Maren got a "new-to-her" easel today.
Maren learned the word "masterpiece."
See how fun it is!
We now have twin baby pandas- Half-Pint & Clara.
Maren busied herself after her rest today with paper and pens as I started dinner. I put her new book on CD My Friend Flicka on for her to listen to. She came bounding into the kitchen with a HUGE smile on her face. "Do you want to see my drawing? My first horse Mom!" She smiled with great pride and held her drawing up high for me to see. I was pretty surprised by the likeness of her drawing to an actual horse. She balked at previous attempts to draw a horse saying she just couldn't. So here it is - her first horse drawing. We are as proud as she is.
Maren & Jonah lead the way to Blueberry Heaven.
HUGE, giant, clumps of mongo berries everywhere!
Blueberry lips
I wound up with NINE cups!
Blueberry heaven happiness!
The start of our hike to Winner Creek in Girdwood.
"Would you like me to introduce you to a norm?"
"This norm lives right in here."
"Hello, how are you today?" said the norm
Sunny spruce forest
Across and above Winner Creek we go!
The view from the tram.
The power behind the hand tram.
