Days with the Dorans

Poor Fender's anxiety is THROUGH THE ROOF. When I went to the vet with him last, I was in tears seeing how petrified he was. Still, he needed to get in to get shots, so they gave me some heavy duty drugs for him and boy, did it knock him out! Unfortunately, he also got sick... in my car on the way to the vet (I called Jeff who came and cleaned it while we were inside), then outside the vet, then inside the vet, then in the car again on the way home (thank you leather seats), and again outside. I didn't want him to come inside so thankfully it was a nice day for him to sleep outside. Sean read to him too to make him feel better. Such a great kid! Next time they'll give us something for his tummy too but I'm also going to start these things called "Victory Visits" where they work on just normalizing the vet in general. Let's hope it works!

  I can't believe my baby is a senior and off to his LAST Band Camp. It was HOME camp first so he and Z went off each morning for a full day of music! I was busy working on the laundry room so I didn't volunteer for this camp (except to send donations of things). Thankfully there are people there who take lots of pictures so I got to "see" what my boys were up to. Mary Hulliberger (their teacher/ director) also snapped a selfie of she and Joe and sent it to me so I had to include that here too. They had a blast and I think it was so nice to have some NORMAL back. Joe, Victor, and Patrick- SENIORS

  This summer seems to be full of thinking about lasts. Joe and I had fun working on his senior band poster. I printed a ton of pictures and we fit a ton on the poster. Only the one with his name will be displayed for band but we have a second one for grad party time! Joe also drew pictures in his name.

  So I am a bit in shock and denial that my baby is ready for college visits. With Ali being so close in age we decided to bring her too so the four of us were off (leaving the littles and pups behind- that felt a bit weird). Joey has been really interested in WMU. We've told him we're cool with him doing community college or really anywhere. The only place he mentioned though was our alma mater (Jeff recently got all his blind stuff from WMU-although we met there he didn't graduate from there at that time...). It was a hot and humid day and we were off for a tour. I don't remember ever doing that but it was really neat. We were paired with a student tour-guide and learned all about WMU. Joe loved it. Campus has changed a ton since we went there (even since we were there last at Stew's wedding). Even Sangren (the education building) was torn down and rebuilt). There was construction going on while we were there. They're building a huge student union building and...

  The guys decided to hit Billy's for an Open Mic Night. Jeff had played there before but I had never gone. Now that Joey is joining them, I find myself going... it's a mom thing (and it's summer)! It was SOOOO loud! And we sat through about two hours of 70s music before the guys got to play! I swear the house band (who seemed to join any singer) made every song about 10-15 minutes because of solos and things. It was funny at first but then it just got annoying... When the guys finally got to play, Jeff had sound issues which was irritating and they played a different style of music that I liked but not sure how well-received it was. Wendi, Scott, and Bradley came though so that was cool! Matt (their regular drummer) couldn't make it so an 18 year old that Dave knew joined them on drums and did a great job. I don't think they'll be going back to Billy's any time soon but it did make for some cool still pictures. They had quite the set up with lights, smoke a...

Well, the car was my mom's, and then my dad's, and then Joey's, and then Joey and Ali's and now it is going to a good home. Though drivable it wasn't all that reliable at times (as I learned) and it was time to donate this sweet car. We are so lucky to have had it to use for the kids. My mom got a new car and so now they can take her car. What a blessing it is for us to have cars to get us safely from point A to point B. We truly do drive our cars until they decide it's time.  It was time.  

  So the kid pictured above LOVES this blog- maybe more than the others (I'm not sure) and I think that perhaps it could be because, like his mom, he treasures the memories- he treasures our family and he loves learning/ remembering the past. I think he's much like me in that way. My mom recently texted me these pictures that she found- treasures for sure! They are of the JONASENS! My Grandpa, Art, Great-Nan (who they definitely remember), my Uncle Steve who died in a car crash a month before I was born, and of course Nana (my mom). Joey also got a record from my mom that my Grandpa made when she was a baby. I need to have him make a recording of it so I can place it here. What a treasure it is. I really do need to remember to keep this up (and include the occasional video with voices) to keep these wonderful memories we make. Once they moved to Toledo, the Jonasens (avid golfers) joined the Heatherdowns Golf Club. It was like a second home to them. I remember going there often...