Sarah: Oldies but Goodies

Look what I came across today! These pictures of Kels & I were taken by my good friend Margaret. She took them for her photography class my junior year (so about 3 years ago--wow! three years?! time flies...).

Look at Gordon! That picture captures him so well as a kitten who was incredibly playful, curious, & loved water. These photos were taken during the 9 month period Kels & I lived together & shared a room. Really, where our friendship was cemented. This is where we first got Gordon, battled a crazy roommate, & discovered our kindred spirits. As you can see, things have changed since then. Kels went to Uganda that January (and met Denis & is now engaged!), I got engaged that March & married in August, we both graduated college, Kels moved short/long term to UG, I moved to San Diego...I'm thankful to have these photos to look back & remember these times. Thanks, Marge.

Oh! By the way, Happy December! I love this time of year. I've been listening to Christmas music nonstop : )

Kelsey: A week in instagram

Really its more like a couple weeks. So we arrived and we were all yay America! And then I got malaria. And then I got better and then we got engaged, yay engaged, and then I got bronchitis. Denis has been extremely patient with me being sick for like 3 weeks straight. He has been busy learning to drive on the right side of the road. Tonight we cooked Ugandan food for American family, made me so homesick for Uganda.

Flowers are still in bloom! We arrived early enough in the fall to see the colors. I love the colors! When we first arrived and were landing in Newark the forests were completely red. It was beautiful.

Hello beautiful backyard. Do you want us to play soccer on you?

Family photo fun.

There we go, everyone looking the right way except for Will.

We made a spur of the moment one day road trip to Michigan and got to see Stef!

Guys. You might think that you have had good waffles. But you have not. These waffles are a Todd Little specialty and I do not think I am exaggerating when I say they are the greatest thing in the world.

Obviously only to be enjoyed with real maple syrup. If you have fake maple syrup in your fridge you walk over there and throw that in the garbage right now. Then you hang your head in shame. Only real maple syrup is acceptable!

Gordon's name means handsome, but we should have named him "looks sweet but is actually pure evil." This cat has been terrorizing large dogs, including Becky's adorable puppy!

I pretty much love all large bodies of water, but there is a special place in my heart for Lake Michigan. 

Denis and Santa have really gotten close lately.

Becky's super sweet puppy Daisy! She is very excited!

Grammy and Pop-pop. I found this old picture of my Dad's mom and dad. They were pretty amazing. 

Why do people drink real champagne? After Welch's invented fake champagne I see no reason to ever suffer through the real stuff. I love me some sparkling grape juice. 

Thanksgiving! My aunt and cousin set a beautiful table. So warm and cozy and thanksgivingy.

I might be taking a lot of pictures of my ring. I keep thinking I will not be that girl... and then I am. I have been engaged for a week and a half and I have so far gotten chocolate and paint all over my ring.

There he is. :)

Custodial Cat

Gordon is his name. Craziness is his game. Our friend Drasko (from Montenegro) helped us name the cat. Gordon sounds kind of like the Montenegrin word for “handsome”—and it stuck. Kels and I first got Gordon in September 2009 as a house cat for the two of us and a third roommate. The third roommate is no longer in the picture, as there was a butt ton of drama that surrounded the true ownership of the cat. There was some hiding of the cat and arguments—but needless to say, we got Gordon.

 So now he is a custodial cat. Meaning he lives with me for part of his life and he lives with Kels for another part. While Kels was studying abroad in Uganda he lived with me from January-August. And let me tell you, this cat is one heck of a listener. We had many a conversation. He is also quite the cuddler. Gordon is a mutt, but he looks almost identical to the Nebelung breed. 

(random, creepy, old Nebelung man-cat)

(Gordon)

This breed is said to be really loyal and a lap cat. This is all true. But what they fail to mention is that Gordon is basically a dog in a cat’s body. He fetches, comes when you call his name (or whistle), makes love to his bag of food (is that a dog thing?), and lays all up on you. 

Gordon's hobbies include reading and chillin' in the bathroom (it's his favorite room). But I've never seen him reading in the bathroom...

Gordon is a W.O.O. (Win Others Over) - he takes after Kels in that way. People who meet Gordon automatically fall in love with him. The only exception to this are two of the most important people in my life: my husband and my mother. Both of these people (who are, let me mention again, central people in my world) hate Gordon. It makes me so sad that his supernatural W.O.O. powers don’t work on them. I mean…look at that FACE! Who wouldn’t love him?!

I sure do.

-Sar