My new puppy

Isn't it adorable? It's 15 months old, and still not house trained, but we love it anyway.

Its favorite toys are binkies, dog food, and of course, anything that is outside. It is especially fond of the geese that have taken up residence on our neighbors roof top.

It does tricks, some of which include clapping, waving, washing hands and hair, making monkey and duck sounds, and the latest is folding arms and kneeling down for prayers. What a good little puppy.

It loves to play in the bathtub with Emma and Maggie, and loves to run around naked.

Sometimes it squeals like a Pterodactyl, and nearly makes my ear drums bleed, but for the most part it is a welcome addition to our family.

Friday Fun

I was awakened this morning by Gretta crying in her crib. It was 4:18AM. After a diaper change, a cup of milkie, and some motherly cuddles, I layed her back in her crib and headed to bed myself. 4:35AM. It was then I thought I felt Sean shaking his leg on the bed. And it was then that I heard our bookcase creak very loudly as it settled. Off to dreamland I went. It wasn't until I watched the news this morning that I realized it was an EARTHQUAKE I was feeling! Wow, who knew? Interesting.

So on to todays fun. I'm bored. And I'm curious. About you, my loyal reader(s). Help me out here by playing along.

What is one food item you absolutely will not eat?

-Rule #1- you must have tasted this at least once, and
-Rule #2- it must be an actual food item.

Easy. I'll start.

Tomatoes. Raw. Gross.

Morning Kids

It's not a surprise to most people when I tell them I'm not a morning person. I never have been. I think Olivia, Maggie and I all suffer from the same sleeping-in disease. Emma and Gretta and Nunn all have that early riser, get-up-to-milk-the-cows-and-slop-the-pigs thing going on. But this morning, the light was perfect, the air was cool, but comfortable, and it smelled like wet moss. So I just couldn't resist letting the kids run outside to play in their jammies as Emma walked off to the bus stop. It's supposed to rain here later today, a major bummer considering how wonderful it has been, so that gave me more incentive to let the kiddies play. The neighbor even brought her kids over for a bit to let them play too! It's nice living in a circle, people seem much more relaxed about letting the kids run and play. I know I am.


Gretta is quite pleased with herself, as you can see by her clapping hands. Just disregard the ever present binkie.


Maggie is pointing out the seasons first potato bugs. Little tiny things that don't yet know how to roll up. She was sure to let them make it across the sidewalk and into the dirt, so they could be with their moms.


And Gretta playing with the wheels on the scooter. I'm telling ya, this kid would play outside All.The.Time if I would let her. A sharp contrast to Maggie, who once she realized there were gnats flying around, was in the house swifter than a mouse on crack!

It was a nice way to start off the morning. Now, I'm off to the craft store. I know, you'd think it would be for something fun, right? Nope. I have to make a poster for our Ward Preparedness Night. How am I supposed to make that look like fun? Sean had the idea of making the poster look like building on fire. That would get people's attention, at least! We'll see. I'll do some looking on the net and see what's been done before.

Dare I dream?

It seems as though Spring has sprung. If even temporarily, it's a sweet reprieve from the Arctic blast of a Winter we've had. The grass is green(ish), and for the moment it is free of the mushy swampiness that has been impeding our traipsing across it for the last week or so.
And from the looks of Gretta's eyes, the sun is apparently shining.


The girlies took part in a game, if short, of airplane. Playing Princesses was next, and that was much more fun.


Maggie has found a "perfect hiding spot, Mom," in our outside TV nook. It would be perfect, you know if it wasn't completely open to the rest of the yard!


And of course, this gave Emma swift permission to hop atop the nook and strike a pose.

Even Bebe had a little fun in the sun today. She was missing for approximately 2 hours. Considering she's in heat, and has been feverishly humping anything that will remain stationary for more than a few seconds, I'm a little concerned we may be having some puppies here in the next 64 days or so. My neighbor 4 houses down brought her back, saying Bebe had been sitting on her back porch waiting to go inside. Apparently their house looks a lot like mine. Or Bebe is kinda dumb. I'm sticking with the latter.

But not all was lost, even if we do end up with some little Shiht's, because my neighbor excitedly invited us to attend the first annual neighborhood "Flamingo Friday". Which I think is code for "letting the kids play in the house of the week's backyard, while the parents drink themselves silly". I don't know about you, but I'm SO THERE!

I'm only gonna say this once

Thank you, Uncle Sam.

'Nuff said.

A few seconds will make your day

This has got to be the funniest kid vid I've seen in a long time.

Enjoy.



Wasn't that worth it? May he make your day merry and bright.

Priceless

Money spent on useless, non-list items at Wal-Mart: $50



Gas money to get to and from Wal-Mart: $8.00



Having groceries delivered to my door for a $10 fee, not taking 2 or 3 kids to Wal-Mart, not driving to Wal-Mart, and not spending money on useless crap while at Wal-Mart:

PRICELESS!

Thankyou, Peapod.com, thank you.