Regal ...

... and the epitome of maternal! Grace is really a joy. I must work harder to get some good pictures of her.

Both of these photos are taken in the center of the house -- the better to keep an eye on her wild boys! She is still very much the mommy -- and she is VERY beautiful.

Growing and growing

Audace (first photo) and Ruse (second photo) can still take naps together on one of the dining room chairs -- just barely! Soon, they'll require separate chairs! I'll bet they choose to snooze near each other, though.

Galveston

On Saturday, the day after Kira's birthday, we took a day-trip to Galveston. Kira wanted to go to the beach, and the rest of us had wanted to see Galveston, so off we went. Here are pictures of Kira and her daddy and brothers at the beach. We all had a good time, even if it was a tad warm!

Very individual

How differently Audace and Ruse are growing! Audace is noticeably larger. A week ago, he was 4.1# and I'll bet he's gained at least half a pound since then! He's the one who plays chase with Grace most often; he's the one with energy to spare for much longer than his brother. He's the little devil these days!! (Gee, do you think Austen will have to switch their names?)

Ruse was 3.3# last week -- and although I'm sure he's gained some, I doubt he's gained as much as Audace has. I think he's had a little cold or something, too. Sunday, he was truly feeling punk -- quite lethargic, not eating as much as I think he should, choosing to snooze in my lap instead of on or under his brother. Just strange things. And I always worry when cats behave out of character. I was going to call the kitty doctor yesterday if he hadn't shaped up at least a little bit -- and sure enough, he did! Yesterday he was much more active, and this morning he's back to his whirlwind self! Thank heaven! (I can hear the two of them playing in the hooked-together nylon cubes, and I can hear Grace "talking" to them!)

I can't seem to post photos today -- couldn't last night either. So photos will have to wait, I guess, until Blogger gets its act together and lets me do what this blog is meant to do -- have lots and lots of pictures!

'til then ...

Kira is SIX!!

On July 21st, Kira turned six years old, and she had a wonderful day: breakfast at Starbuck's (they make the best kids' hot chocolate!), skating with friends and family, a birthday ice cream-cake with sparkler candles, and plenty of presents!

Incredibly sad

Accidents involving children are incredibly sad. Last Thursday, such an accident happened nearby, which involved youngsters from Austen's and Parker's schools: KHOU article and Chronicle article. Many of these children's friends and neighbors have made a memorial at the site of the crash. It's all just unbelievably heart-breaking.

Check-up

Austen and I took Audace and Ruse to the kitty doctor yesterday for their second set of kitten shots. Audace weighs 4.1# and Ruse weighs 3.3# -- so tiny, yet SUCH little whirlwinds at certain times of day! Also, each one has lost one baby tooth -- center front on top. Kittens' baby teeth are almost invisible anyway, so I was really surprised to find that I could actually see the tiny gaps. Of course the doctor had to point them out -- then I could see them!

What little terrors, but they're also very funny!! I know all this won't last long, so we're taking movies and pictures all the time. The latest movies are really fun to watch -- http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=writeacher

Enjoy!

Three spoken for; two to go

After taking in Grace and two of her kittens in early June, the plight of abandoned cats and dogs is uppermost in my mind lately. Here's another story -- from an email today from the lady who has this website: http://www.cathappy.com/torti.htm

So ... only two need homes -- the mommy (Torti) and one kitten (Cosmos). The power of the Internet is helping find good homes for these lucky cats.

I'm so glad we took Grace and the two of her kittens who hadn't yet been spoken for. Such joys they are -- even though at times the kittens can be real terrors! I know they'll grow out of it, and I'm hoping that Grace's lovely disposition will be taken on by these two "boys" of hers!

Downtown trip

Yesterday, I went with the Linehans and met up with others from the blogHOUSTON scene to ride the downtown Houston metro line (the "danger train" as they call it!) from one end to the other. I've been in other cities with various forms of public transportation, including trains, and even though this one is interesting, it is very short (about 7 miles and only through downtown) and does nothing to bring people from the outlying areas into the city efficiently -- for work, for business, for tourism -- none of the above.

Oh, well, we had a fun (if a tad warm and sticky) day! Dinner at Cabo after our train ride, and a walk around the parks and theater area afterward. If you want to read Anne's take on it, go to the blogHOUSTON website. It's a good write-up.

Parks

Parks -- without playground stuff, though, so Kira doesn't think they are true parks!

A wonderful fountain

Artwork

Artwork around downtown Houston -- wonderfully surprising, the carefully planned and the spontaneous:

When they sleep ...

Audace and Ruse almost always fall asleep near or next to or on each other. They seem to need to be in contact -- with each other or me or Grace -- or some combination! They're still kittens, after all!!

Don't forget ...

... to keep watching for more movies. As soon as Austen or I take new ones, they are uploaded. It's a wonderful way to watch changes in young kittens ... growing older!

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=writeacher

=)

This week's favorites!

First up is Ruse -- so named because he is such a sly little devil. He's slightly smaller than his brother, but he's the one who believes he can jump from the floor to the kitchen counters! He will eventually, I'm sure, but not yet ... however, that doesn't keep him from trying. Every day!


Next is Audace who got his name for his daring and courage. He'll try anything at least once, and usually more often than that. At first, he was the one who tired first and was off napping, while Ruse was still playing around. Not so anymore, though.

The third picture is of Grace, who REALLY needs her beauty sleep. I think she likes to snooze on the top of the couch because she can see in nearly all directions -- the better to keep an eye on her ever-growing, ever-willful young'uns! She really has an impossible task. She might as well face facts and give up chasing them down and giving them baths. They are not tiny kittens any more!

Continuing to update

More photos of Grace, Audace, and Ruse -- all growing just fine. Grace is finally putting on weight after her spay surgery, and the kittens just keep getting larger and larger, of course. Since they are males, they will probably turn out to be taller and bigger than their mom. It'll be interesting to watch that happen!

Enjoy!