Another Ritzy Week

Having Shelby spend the week with us was absolutely delightful! What continues to sadden me the most is coming home and Shayla not having her sister to run off and play. Last summer, Christi was feeling so well, they spent many hours each day off playing together while I studied at the kitchen table. This week, it was like a repeat of last summer. The girls came home from Ritz theatre camp and took off playing together while I studied in the kitchen. I just kept shaking my head and thinking about how "comfortable" it was having two kids off playing together. Then I had to remind myself that it was cousin Shelby playing with Shayla, not Christi. Nevertheless, Shayla had a glorious time - not just at camp, but also having Shelby with us all week! Thank you, Shelby!

Holding Buttercup at the vet's.
Shelby received her first horseback riding lesson (and loved it)!
I tried to squeeze in something "fun" for the girls every day!

I'm not certain it was easy for her, but she wanted to stay by herself in Christi's bedroom, so she did. Shelby and Christi were incredibly close. All week I found it odd to have someone in Christi's room - a room I typically try to avoid, telling myself she's really in there talking on the phone, reading or drawing. One morning I walked by and noticed Shelby just staring and looking at Christi's things displayed on her dresser. I walked in and gave her a hug. Later I asked her if it was hard staying in Christi's room because she could stay with Shayla or stay in my room or in the living room - whatever she wanted. She told me she just trys not to think about Christi being dead because that's so sad but she likes staying in Christi's room and she knows that Christi would want her to have fun in her room like they always did.

This reminds me of a picture I just "saved" from my cell phone, taken nearly one year ago.
Shayla & Christi, June 2006

Our little squeaker (Shayla - a mouse)
Shelby, a begger