The cat

We had a heart-wrenching experience in June when this gorgeous guy ("Jewel", as named by Jamie) showed up at our back porch, made friends with the kids and stared through the back door day and night for nearly a week. We never fed him, not wanting to encourage him, but he was lovely with the kids, really playing with them and keeping them company whenever they were outside.

Eventually, we concluded that the poor dude didn't have a home or food, and staying outside is against a Kitchener bylaw for cats. Although we would have loved to give him shelter, we did not know for certain he was homeless and a few of us are allergic; it didn't seem like a wise option. We finally brought him to the care of the Humane Society. After tagging him and treating for ear mites, he was put up for adoption. We're hoping that someone else is enjoying his cool green stares now, hopefully with kids.

And, probably best not to ask us about Jewel... we're still having a hard time with this, trying to move on, trying to stop entertaining the "what ifs" of a parallel universe with Jewel a part of our family.

In the end, Snowball is the only one celebrating this situation.