Life lately in a few words: cat chases, cupcakes, and caring! Miss Niva tried to make a new feline friend and I did some stress baking as we dealt with more sickness for baby girl Dakota. My days have blurred together in a sweet and messy way.
Our dog may be a little crazy, but at least the kitchen smells great! Poor Koko has been battling through a new virus but we’re all enjoying the extra snuggles from our wiggliest little one. I’m weary. I’m grateful. I’m here to share it all 😊
Our Resident Ringmaster Strikes Again 🐾
Niva is at it again! Last week was all about squirrels and raccoons, and this week kicked off with a cat chase. I was in the kitchen when I heard Niva bark—for only the second time ever. I knew it couldn’t be good.
I looked outside and there she was, perched on top of our hot tub. I assumed it was another raccoon, but no—it was our neighbor’s cat, Sushi.
I have no idea how Sushi ended up in our yard and halfway up a tree, but there we were. I called his owners, and it took three of us to get Niva inside and rescue Sushi. Two of us stood on the hot tub, one on the ground, and we used our combined body weight to pull the branch down so his owner could grab him. Sadie and Dakota sat on a chair watching the whole spectacle—thankfully Sadie was there to hold Koko!
We finally got Sushi off the branch and set him down. What did he do? He immediately scrambled right back up the tree! Thankfully his owner was quick and managed to grab him lickety-split before he got too high up the branch.
Just your average Monday—standing on the hot tub, rescuing cats from trees, and making sure our dog doesn’t eat ’em!
Caring For Our Little One 🥺
Dakota just can’t catch a break lately! She finished up her antibiotic for her double ear infection just in time to come down with a high fever and a rash.
Her temperature climbed up above 102 and I felt so bad for her. Then I noticed a rash and was just so confused. Was it related to the ear infection—or something new? By Sunday morning, we were at Urgent Care. Poor Kota Bear has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
She is pretty miserable with it, too. She’s covered in tiny, painful blisters and it’s so sad! She’s been clingy and fussy, wanting nothing more than to be held. She is normally always moving and wiggling, but lately she just rests her head on my shoulder. It’s sweet and heartbreaking all at once, you know?
We haven’t dealt with hand, foot, and mouth since Mordecai was a little guy and I remember him being particularly pitiful. We’re praying Dakota feels better soon—and that her brother and sister stay healthy! Until she’s all better I’m soaking up the extra snuggles 🥰
Cupcakes as a Coping Mechanism 🧁
What to do when you’ve got a dog chasing cats up trees, a baby with a fever, and a laundry pile as tall as you are? You bake cupcakes, obviously!
These cupcakes were chocolate with chocolate buttercream—topped with chocolate sprinkles and Hershey’s bars. Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate!
I had fun with these—using cake flour, homemade buttermilk, dutch processed cocoa powder, and a technique to bloom to cocoa and add extra moisture. I was telling Jimmy about it and I think his eyes glazed over in boredom. He was probably thinking just give me a cupcake, woman! 😂
They came out wonderfully! I also made an apple pie with the kids but totally forgot to take a photo. Baking is just so calming to me 🧘♀️
Learning and Life ✏️
As per usual, everyday life has looked like homeschool lessons, cooking, playtime, and trips to the library.
The kids learned a new memory verse as we studied the story of Noah and the flood. They did a rainbow craft together, too!
Sadie went to kids club at the library and learned about recycling! Mordecai came along with us and played in the kids section.
Sader Tot had a dentist appointment (no cavities—yay!) at dinner time so Jimmy took Sadie and I did dinner duty with our littles. We made waffles with my mini waffle iron and heated up some sausage. Add in baby food, some strawberries, and chocolate milk and dinner was served!
Love my little kitchen helpers!
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- Can’t get your kids to take vitamins? Try gummy worm vitamins! Now my kids want vitamins allll day, lol. 🐛
- I was driving the other day and really noticed the leaves are starting to change colors here in Pittsburgh. What is the foliage like where you live? 🍂
- I was craving a warm beverage in the afternoon but definitely didn’t need more caffeine in my system. I brewed a cup of peppermint tea and it hit the spot! 🫖
- I’m starting to plan out Mordecai’s birthday treats and I can’t decide if I should do a cake or cupcakes. His theme is garbage trucks! ♻️
- After some chilly nights, I took our big, fluffy bed blanket out of its storage bag and am now basking in the the softness and warmth!
- Croc shoes have been such a game changer for Mordecai. He can slip them on all by himself!! I think I’ll be buying him a fuzzy pair for his birthday so he can still put his on shoes on when it’s cold outside!🐊
- I like to have a bowl of cereal every night and it freaks Jimmy out that I mix at least five different cereals together. My current lineup is: Peanut Butter Chex, Coconut Almond Granola, Annie’s Bunny Grahams, Strawberry Chex, and Peanut Butter Puffins. What can I say, I’m a cereal killer! 🥣
Aaaand that’s a wrap! Dakota turns eight months this week and Jimmy has started a retaining wall project at our house. You’ll find me doing more stress baking, homeschooling, and snuggling in the meantime 😉
Living My Full Life 
My birthday buddy!
Poor precious baby Kota!
🙏 Praying she feels better quick!
Love ❤️ You!
Dad
🙂