Cash Bennett's Obituary

Cash Bennett 6/11/03 - 11/21/08


Cash, you were the sweetest boxer I have ever known. You brought so much love and joy to our family. From the moment we brought you home from Seagraves, Texas to the day you were sent home to Heaven, we loved you. I remember how you would get so excited to see anyone. You would actually make your body form a C-shape around the persons' legs and shake your bottom so much, we just knew it would come off one day! I love how you would cock your head one way and give us the most adorable "what are you doing" look. I loved how you would want to get so close to me, that you would step on my feet. I love how soft your ears were. I would always kiss them and rub them between my fingers. I loved how soft the fur on your chest was. It always felt silky, no matter how dirty you were. I loved giving you warm baths in the bathtub, because you cried if I gave you a cold bath from the water hose outside. You brought love and joy to us, Cash. I am SO thankful that you were able to come back home and we were able to spend 10 days with you. I know that you were so happy to be home with us, and we were so happy to have you with us. Thank you for being so kind and gentle to Annabelle. From the time I was pregnant to the present, you always considered Annabelle your own baby. Even if Annabelle hit you, you gently accepted this and turned the other way. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful member of the family. We will always greatly miss you. Words cannot express how much I loved you! We love you, Cash.

Cookies Anyone?

I'm a member of a little playgroup that gets together pretty often, but we miss quite a bit since I work part-time and sometimes our nap schedule gets in the way of a few opportunities. Anyways, we had playgroup at our house, which obviously we couldn't miss, and Annabelle and I decided we would decorate cookies. Let me tell you...it was fun, but complete chaos!!! WOW!!! I think that nearly everyone from the playgroup showed up, so that means there were about 25 people, including children from ages newborn to 4 years old, at our house. We loved every second of it, but I think everyone was tired as they loaded into their cars.














Weston and Halley came over after work and it was much calmer then. Annabelle and Weston ate the remaining frosting and had a ball (love the orange teeth). Those two are funny! They get along great, which makes it so nice for me and Heather. They could play together for hours.

Annabelle was also obsessed with baby Halley. She kept asking if she could hold her. As you can see, Annabelle fell in complete love with Halley (although I am thinking that Halley didn't have the "love at first sight" feeling)! Hee. Hee. I think if Annabelle had her way, a baby brother or sister would be in the making. Too bad Daddy says we are "one and done". Boo! I would LOVE to have another one. Annabelle has been such a joy to be around.

Good ole Cash!

This is our so sweet boxer, Cash. Bryan and I got her in 2003, so she is 5 1/2 years old. We love this dog, although we don't spend as much time with her as we did before Annabelle was born.

Annabelle LOVES Cash. She hugs on her and talks to her, and always wants to let her inside to play.

Cash woke up one morning about two weeks ago and wouldn't walk. Bryan and I took her to the vet and he has said that he doesn't know what is wrong with Cash. He thinks it is some neurological problem. Cash spent 10 days with the vet and we brought her home yesterday. I can't lose this dog. I love her so much, and Annabelle loves her more. If you think about it, say a little prayer that Cash will feel better. She is on pain medicenes twice a day and antibiotics as well. She is walking, but her back legs are weak.

I'm trying to fatten her up right now. She lost 8 pounds after being with the doctor 10 days. Here's to hot dogs, bologne and hamburgers. The doctor said we will re-evaluate her in two to three weeks and see if there has been improvement. Thanks for your prayers, she is definitely part of the family.

Trick or Treat!

We had so much fun this year with Halloween. There were so many fun Halloween parties that we attended...we really had a great time. Annabelle is like me, she LOVES to socialize, so we tried to go to everything. Annabelle was a trooper and had so much fun dressing up and meeting other children.

Annabelle's actual Halloween costume was this mermaid costume (and yes...it was made in the USA and did not have a sticker on it that said "this product contains a chemical known in the state of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm". You remember that fiasco.) She LOVED being a mermaid and dressed up several times for friends and family that came over (she is like me in that way too, she is a performer).

Lucky for us, Halloween was really pretty this year, so it wasn't too chilly. We had a ball with Annabelle trick-or-treating at family and friends homes. She loved saying "Halloween, Halloween, trick-or-treat. Our costumes can't be beat!" from the Dora Halloween episode. Her Bop told her she was a beautiful mermaid, and Annabelle said, "Bop, I'm not really a mermaid. I'm Annabelle!" Too funny!

Cheerleader

Annabelle was supposed to dress up for her gymnastics class the week of Halloween. I didn't want Annabelle to tear her mermaid costume or her Cinderella costume, so I had her wear her cheerleading outfit. She loved it...which makes mommy so proud! She loved clapping for all the children as they got their awards. Annabelle was awarded the best Scary Ghost Seat Drops award. She was thrilled. It was really too cute. All of the children were dressed up and they had a free for all day with the blow-ups.

Adult Halloween Party

We went to an adult Halloween party. Bryan and I were vikings...not too creative. You should have seen all of the funny costumes. Most of them were homemade, except ours and a couple of others. I give two thumbs up to my friend Kristen, below. She was an oompa-loompa. She died her hair green (I really hope that it all came out) and put batting on her eyebrows with craft glue (also hoping this comes off gently). Kristen's husband, Ryan was a top gun pilot...he had the top gun music playing in his pocket...that was hilarious. Lal was Richard Simmons and Becca was one of his "oldies". It was really a riot. Bryan and I are going to be creative next year...so be ready!

Cinderella

I signed Annabelle and Brentley up for decorating cookies with the Disney Princesses at the Cookies by Design cookie shop. They had a BALL!!!! I think Annabelle was totally star struck when she met the princesses. She went up to them, but nothing would come out of her little mouth. She just grinned from ear to ear! Bryan's mom helped me put Annabelle's hair up into a bun. Candie had a hair piece that made Annabelle's bun fuller. She looked darling!!!!

She loved decorating the cookie, and she LOVED the icing. Her cookie was pitiful looking. I tried to make it look better, but you can see from the picture that our little cookie monster had attacked it several times. The lady at the store kept saying to Annabelle, "we can't lick off of the spreader." Oh well...it was too much fun. Annabelle talked about it for days.

Top 20 Under 40 Award

A few weeks ago, I was awarded the Top 20 Under 40 Award (which is actually for the top 20 young professionals under the age of 40 in the Lubbock area). This was the 2nd year for the award. Bryan actually won the award last year, so we are officially the first couple in Lubbock to receive the Top 20 Under 40 Award. Go accountants!! Bryan and I have had a bunch of fun being involved in activities together. Even though we are pretty much with each other 24/7; we don't seem to get tired of eachother (he may have a different opinion). We are truly blessed.

BB's new BFF is MM

O.K...so it pays to be an accountant. My husband, Bryan, helps out with the Texas Tech stats team and was able to get a media pass for the Texas Tech vs. Texas game (which obviously was SO much fun...GO TECH!!!!). He spent the majority of the game on the field and happened to meet and make friends with Matthew McConaughey!!!! Matthew (as we call him...hee...hee) asked Bryan to come with him and his girlfriend and baby Levi and hang out. Bryan spent the whole 2nd quarter, all of half-time and a little bit of the 3rd quarter with Matthew. Of course, Bryan had a BALL!!!!!



This other picture is the picture in the Lubbock AJ today on page A2. Of course, you can see Bryan standing right next to Matthew! Too cool!!! (And no, I was not there...I was at home with Annabelle. But Annabelle and I had a ball pausing the TV and yelling out, "Daddy's on TV"!!!) Definitely a good time had by all!