Just a week in the life...

Some weeks are busy and some weeks just don't go as planned...and this week?  Well this week was a little bit of both.  Sometimes it's hard trying to be a good aunt, a good dog mom, and just a good person in general.  The last 8 days have been a whirlwind of activity trying to be all of those things.  I had commitments nearly every day this week, but was looking forward to a fun-filled week.

My nieces and nephew are the typical busy kids of today.  With schools, sports, band, dancing, and various other activities between the three of them, I'm not sure how my brother and sister-in-law keep up with it all.  I don't feel like I spend nearly enough time with them and love to see them participating in all of their awesome activities.  So last Saturday the girls and I jumped in the Jeep and headed off to Corunna for an afternoon of Inline Hockey games.

Brezlyn loves the camera

Mason relaxing after the game

Maddie and Imke 

Sunday was Mother's day and a trip to Chesaning to spend time with the family.   It was great to get to spend some time with the mother's in my life...including my grandma and my mom.

Grandma, Sidnee, Mark and Mason

Jeri Lynn, Mom, Robin and Brezlyn

Monday night was a fun-filled night volunteering for the shelter.  I spent the evening with Courage, a young pitbull from the shelter, at the Lansing Lugnuts "Bark at the Park" event.  Courage was featured on the big screen between the 2nd and 3rd innings and we spent most of the night walking around the stadium making new friends.  He was an awesome ambassador for bully breeds and for the Ingham County Animal Shelter.  And what would a ball game be without a hot dog, so of course, he got one of those too.  What a sweet and happy boy!  And even better, he was adopted at the shelter just two days later!

Courage

We hit a bump in the road on Tuesday when I learned that Max, who had been adopted just 10 days earlier, would be coming back to me.  In a very sad and unexpected turn-of-events, it was discovered that his new fur-sister was allergic to Max.  His new mom was very sad, but had to do what was best for her first baby and Max could no longer stay.  It was with much sadness and many tears that she brought him back to me Tuesday night.  We made the drive to Paw Paw to meet her (and managed to get in a quick walk on the North Country Trail along the way) and to help ease Max back into our household. I don't think he minds at all that he's back again.  And I have to admit, I don't mind having him back!  I'm just glad that I was able to take him back and to help make the situation a little easier for all involved.

 A little NCT exploration

Wednesday took me back to Chesaning for Sidnee's final Band concert.  I was impressed at how good the High School Symphonic Band was and enjoyed the concert.  Watching those 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands and then the high school...what an amazing progression.  And it took me back to my years in band and all of the fun we had.  Watching my niece perform on the same stage that I performed all those years ago is pretty neat.  Although it was a long night, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the performances.

The saxophones..Sidnee is in the 2nd chair

Thursday found me running errands and having dinner with a friend before getting to spend a little quality time out in the yard with the dogs.  After a little play time they even allowed me to get a picture.  

And finally, we made it to Friday and the weekend!  After the week I had, there were no plans other than to stay home and relax!  I think Max was happy with that choice too!  Such a snuggler. 

Max

To end our whirlwind week, Saturday we joined the Woofer Walk.  This is a great fundraising event and the dog walking club participated this year to show off our shelter dogs and to help raise funds for the anti-cruelty fund.  The girls, Max, and I all piled into the Jeep before 9am to head out to the shelter to pick up a couple of dogs for the event.  We spent some time prior to the event making new doggy friends and getting some exposure for the shelter dogs.  We then joined the 5k walk with the group.  This is the 6th time I've joined this walk and the 5th time I've done it with Maddie and Imke so they are pros.  Max was a little nervous at first, but once the walk got started he was a champ. What a great way to help out a cause I am passionate about and get to spend time with the girls too.  

The girls waiting patiently to start the walk

Vanessa and Max

Just walking the 5k

Woofer Walk 2017

Although it was a busy week, we accomplished so much.  We had some quality family time, did some good, and had a lot of fun along the way.  And thanks to Mother Nature and a little rain, we spent Saturday afternoon and evening relaxing and remembering how lucky we are and how thankful we are to have each other!

Max and Maddie