Minus the (and B)

We had to say goodbye to our sweet Bunny last week.  Lop eared bunnies typically have a life span of 8-12 years and Bun was just over 11.5 - definitely a Grandpa Bun in bunny years.  He would've been 12 in November.

Over the last several years you could definitely tell Bun was getting older.  He started to develop cataracts and became less and less active than he was back in his heyday.  Over the last several months he had started getting very weak and lethargic and, more recently, had stopped eating and drinking.  It was only a matter of time.

We took Bun in to the vet, said a sweet Bunny prayer, gave him one last pet, and said our goodbyes.  The vet took him back and we drove home minus our infamous (and B).

Bunny.

Bun entered our worlds during Christmas 2001.  Amy, my sister, wanted a pet, and a Bunny arrived for Christmas!

She must've been very good that year!

Shortly thereafter, in 2003, my family moved to England.  I was in college so I was staying here in the states.  If they took Bun with them he would have to be quarantined for six months.  It was much easier for me to be the temporary adoptive Mother to Bunny-Boo while Amy was in England for three years.

The three years turned into five.  Amy grew, Bun grew, I grew, and Marley entered the picture.

10 week old Marl!

Marley and Amy have a special connection,
even to this day!

James and Marley!
These two wee ones are not so wee anymore!

When my family moved back to Maryland from England, Bun had a special place in my heart, Amy was in high school and very active with sports and extra curricular activities and Marley was enjoying his puppy-hood.

Being a temporary adoptive Mother to Bunny became permanent, so Bun stayed with me.

I have so many Bun stories but there's one in particular that will forever hold a special place in my heart: when Brian first met Bun.

Brian had not had the experience of being around many bunny rabbits.  He was not very comfortable in Bun's presence and he was allergic to him.  For the first year of our relationship, we were doing long distance with Brian in Ohio and me in Virginia.  Every time Brian came to visit he stayed with Bun and me, so did his allergy pills.

One time in particular Bun was out of his cage, which he normally was, and Brian starting walking down the hall to the bathroom to shower.  Bun started following him which made Brian very uneasy.  Brian walked faster until he made it safe and sound in the bathroom and closed the door.  That was, at least, until Brian turned around and found Bun opposite of him, staring, already in the bathroom.  That was when I heard, "E!  Bun is in the bathroom.  Come and get him!" 

Obviously, the fact that a grown man is fearful of a cute wittle bunny wabbit already had me cracking up, so the fact that Brian was literally running away from a five pound Bun that was literally chasing him had me doubled over!  I was no help at all!  Well, not until Brian called for help.  I wiped my tears away, walked into the bathroom and scooped Bun up to allow Brian to shower in peace!

This was one of the many reasons Bun became our ornery sidekick!

Every time I think of that story it makes me laugh!  It is one that even we laugh about together now because Brian and Bun really became good buds!  I wouldn't go as far as to call them best friends, but they both came a long way!

He he!

Bun will be cremated per the vet's normal procedure for pets his size and his ashes will be spread among an organic orchard along a river.  I like to believe that he will forever be in Bunny Heaven, romping around with the other bunnies, eating lots of clover, and lounging in the warm sun!  He was a good Bun.  He was a good friend.  And he will truly be missed.  We heart you, Bunny.

Forever in our hearts.

Six and a Half Minutes

That's how long we sat like this.


We're making huge Bun and Pooch relationship strides here, folks.

History in the making, I tell ya!

Supervised Visitation

This is how we allow play time at our house:

We warn them both that curiosity killed the cat...

(And, yes, that is my shirt that Jack is so tenderly gripping onto.)

What Bun has to say...

Since Bun is such a huge part of our lives, and an essential ingredient in this blog, we thought it would only be fair to include his point of view of the entire engagement/wedding planning situation too...

...We've pretty much gotten the stink eye from Bun since we got back from Jamaica and told him we got engaged. We're not quite sure if that was because we left him cooped up in his cage while we were out enjoying paradise and it's his way of 'paying us back' or if he truly is not happy about our engagement. (I'm thinking it's our payback.)

Fortunately, throughout the last couple of nights, Bun has really come around. He actually wants to be around us. He lets us sit next to him, but no closer than about 4 feet for that would be invading his personal space, he lets us pet him, and has had quite a time 'exploring'. (You think cats are curious? Get a Bun.) He's actually interested in what we are doing and doesn't come out of his cage to sit in his spot and literally watch our every movement without moving any other inch of his little body.

We've explained that we will be married next year and that no matter what he thinks he will still be smothered in hugs and kisses and tons of love from me...and Brian. (He's not too fond of this as it is so we may have just put ourselves back on his bad side...)

Nevertheless, he is our Bun, and a great Bun at that, and if he hasn't come around about our engagement, I know he will. (And if it is just pay back, I hope we're almost through...) Thanks for keeping us on our toes, Bunny. We love you.