Happy New Year!
(I can still say that even though we are many weeks into January, right?)
The blog took a pause in November of last year as life found a way to serve our family one gut punch after another. We’re all okay. But it wasn’t easy, and it’s still not, but like many people all over the world, we are getting through it one day at a time. So I'll recap the end of 2024 in this blog post, and hint at some exciting ideas I have planned for 2025.
And, with taking it one day at a time, life has brought us to, "New year, new Franklin blog posts!" Yay!!! I am so thankful for our furbabies, Franklin and big brother Kap, for being the light during our moonless nights. Their cuddles and unrelenting need for attention always help get John and I out of our own minds and back to the present. There is truly nothing like the love of an animal to make you get out of bed, and nothing like expensive diabetic cat food to make you not quit your job, lol. Life is hard, but it's worth it.
In November John and I decided to stay home with the boys for Thanksgiving and cook a bunch of food for just the two of us. Shockingly, and yet not shockingly because we are good cooks, the food turned out incredibly delicious. It was the first time we’d both made Thanksgiving food, including a full turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and stuffing. There were many phone calls to both our moms to make sure we had all the right ingredients and recipes, and all the hard work was worth it! I’m honestly scared to make Thanksgiving food again in 2025 because it definitely felt like beginners luck making such yummy food for the first time!
And since the boys could not partake in any of the human food, we got them turkey-flavored cat food which Kap, of course, woofed down as fast as possible and then begged for more. Franklin was meh about the flavor (he’s incredibly picky). It was a nice, relaxing holiday, once all the food was finished being cooked.
In December, John’s parents came to Las Vegas for Christmas and stayed at a hotel near our home. We saw his parents every day of their 5-day vacation, and as they came into the house every day for hours at a time, Franklin FINALLY got used to their presence! He has been around John’s parents a few times before, especially John’s mom as she has cat-sat for us before we moved to Las Vegas, but this was the first time Franklin didn’t hide the entire time in another room. The first two days, he’d creep around the living room, staring at John’s parents from afar. By Christmas Day he was walking around their feet while they sat on the couch. He did not want to be pet, and any acknowledgement by them of his presence spooked him into skittering away for a few minutes; but then he'd return and start the cycle all over again. On the last day of their visit, I picked Franklin up in my arms and very slowly walked him over to John’s parents. Franklin was very tense, but didn’t immediately jump away like he always had before. Both John's mom and dad were able to pet Franklin for about 3 seconds before Franklin had enough and jumped away, but what progress!!!! I am so excited by this development.
John and I were lucky enough to receive some incredible gifts from our family this Christmas, but the present I cherished the most was having a Christmas Tree in the house that the cats DID NOT attack. Both Kap and Franklin were curious, but neither one felt the need to pounce on any ornaments or climb into the tree. Kap explored the base of the tree a few times before leaving interest, but Franklin LOVED the tree. He enjoyed sleeping underneath the branches, staring at the branches, and reminding us that no matter what presents lay under the tree, he is the greatest gift of all.
New Years Eve came and went with a pizza date and fireworks for the humans. Thankfully we now live far away from huge firework shows so John and I didn’t have to worry about leaving the boys at home.
Fun Fact: New Years Eve fireworks in 2021 were the reason I bonded with Kap. At the time, John lived in Hollywood on a street that echoed so badly from illegal fireworks that I sat on the kitchen floor petting Kap and singing to him to help distract and relax him from the explosive sounds outside. Poor baby was scared out of his mind, but I know he was grateful for the love and attention and safety, because every time I went over to John’s apartment after that Kap would immediately come out of his hiding spot and greet me with head rubs on my leg. It was a shock to John, seeing the way Kap had taken to me, and personally I think it cemented the idea in John's mind that I was the one. I am so thankful that a few months later, when John and I moved in together, I got to become Kap's Meemaw. Both he and Franklin are my sweet furbabies, and I love them so much.
And so ends the recap of the last few months! This year, while I have many projects going on (I'm getting my bachelor's degree and self-publishing a book!), I've decided to continue publishing one blog post a month about our lives with Franklin. I also have a new idea that ties in with the blog that will launch in March, so make sure to subscribe to the blog for all things Franklin!
You can also follow us on Instagram, to which I also slacked picture-wise at the end of the year (oops), but we are back with brand new pictures and videos every week!
Thank you for reading the blog. We hope you have a wonderful 2025! -Miranda & John
"Meow meow!" -Franklin & Kap
Commentaires