Annual Parent Newsletter

We have had a wonderful year filled with friends, family, work, school, major life milestones, good food, bad food, animals, animal products, weeds, dirt, piano tuners, and much more.

Ruben, aka Master Ruben, Rooby-doob, Buben, Rubers, Roob-doob. 

Still plotting to take over the world, one lap at a time. He turned 12 in November. We have had him for over 4 years now and he has always had a vomiting problem. At first I thought "I'm not a vet. I have no idea why he vomits all the time." Now I think "I'm a vet and I still have no idea why he vomits all the time." So he eats, he pukes, he purrs.

Lucy, aka Woocy, Lucybuns, Bunners. 

She has decided that her favorite flavor is chicken poop. She has asked for chicken poop flavored jelly beans for Christmas. Does anyone know where I might be able to get some of those?

Lola, aka Ears. 

Lola lives in a constant state of anticipating the next time she will get to go running. I once tried to take her running on roller blades and it was a disaster because I had no way of stopping. I have contemplated hooking her leash up to the back of the car and taking her running that way but I think I would lose my vet license.

Five hens: Henrietta, Wasabi, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra. Last year we also had two hens named Cluck and Clack. When they stopped laying, they got to retire at my co-worker's farm and peck around with 60 other chickens in a huge garden all day long. They loved it until one of them got eaten by a fox. Frankie and Johnny haven't started laying yet and I keep reminding them what happened to the last two chickens. Lucy likes the chickens because they make chicken poop.

Three+ bunnies: Jadwiga, Juno, and Yaroslaw. Our bunnies graduated from caged to free-range this year and they are loving it. We have two litters ready to pop out of their burrows and we're not entirely sure how many of them there are yet.

Katie, aka President

Me and my new kitchen

Me and my new house

My favorite foods are ice cream and dark chocolate. The best thing about this year was graduating from vet school. The thing I most regret about this year is that I still haven't gotten  my flu shot and I am also sad that my goat calendar is about to run out. I found my first real job this year working as a dog/cat veterinarian in a little town not too far away. I get to meet all kinds of nice people and pets, a few crazies, and a few pets that would be happier if I were dead. A beagle named Meatball bit all the way through my thumb nail and a Labrador retarded named Charlie flung its head onto my face and gave me a shiner that clients still remind me about. I like working for the most part but I have decided that when I retire, I don't want to work anymore.

Alex, aka Dr. A, Aley pants, Supreme Dictator.

Alex and his new girlfriend

Alex had the distinct honor of graduating with his PhD in chemistry and so now gets to be a full time student. He just finished his first semester of medical school. He enjoys gardening, running, eating, studying for finals, working on the house, and finishing to do lists that I write for him.

Our house: still in exactly the same place. Please come visit. We now have a 10 foot wide mud pit in our front yard from a water pipe that burst a few days ago.

We wish you all happiness and prosperity in the New Year! Please feel free to remind me of your blog addresses if you have one or drop us a note/email to let us know how you are doing!

With love,

Katie, Alex, Ruben, Lucy, Lola, Jadwiga, Yaroslaw, Juno, Unknown bunnies #1-?, Wasabi, Henrietta, Elvis, Johnny, and Frankie