MY dogs....

Ok, so let me introduce my two dogs to those of you who may not know them. This is TOBY and MOLLY. Let me just say what a source of contention they can sometimes be between me and my hubby. Now, we got Toby before we even had kids. Hubby got him for my birthday and I loved it!! My family is allergic to dogs, cats, and most everything else, so this dog was perfect. He was a nonshedding dog and could stay in my house and my family could still come visit. Hubby used to love this dog, take him running with him and he would come in the car with us....well, then the kids came and things changed.

So when I wanted another dog for Toby to play with, we struck a deal. Hubby could get ANOTHER gun and I would get another dog. So, that is when Molly has come into our lives. We have had her for about 4 years now and the poor girl has had 4 different litters of puppies!! For those other pro rescue dog lovers out there, she is fixed now!! Anyway, the dogs have more then paid for themselves! Now my sweet husband is growing more and more intollerant of them. For those that know me, I am a HUGE animal lover. They would sleep in my bed, if I did not have to hear about it from someone else I sleep with. Hubby is not feeling the same. So, we have to go the rounds about it at times, but I do not believe in giving up an animal once you have commited to take care of it. My kids love these dogs and they are good for them.

I am sure I will have many future stories to tell about these events with these dogs...

This is my life....

Why is it that whenever you have something you REALLY need to get done...something always happens that make completing that task SOOO much harder?

I have been needing to get Paige's two year pictures done for a month now. I finally decided on what she was going to wear, I made the appointment with the photographer, and I got the OK from Neil. Of course, when I am giving Paige a bath in preparation of of getting these pictures done, she slips in the bathtub and gets her first big bruise on her eye!! So, I call the place and reschedule for a few days down the road, hoping her eye would look better. Then this morning, when I am getting Jacob in the car for preschool and Paige in to get her pictures done, the door opens and our two dogs see an opportunity for a joyride. The second that door opened even a crack, they bolt out of there and did not look back. I quickly throw the kids in the car and head down the street thinking that they could not have gone far, but they disappeared!! Now normally, I would drop everything until I found them because I allow my mind to wander about them getting hit by a car or someone dognapping them, but today I did not have the time. I just pushed ahead as planned and hoped they would be there when I got home a few hours later. Fortunately, I found Toby had but put on the lease outside our house by some kind hearted neighbor and Molly was laying there next to him. I will save my drama with my dogs for another post...but, needless to say, Neil would have been happy if they never made it home.

Paige cooperated during the pictures, although you can see the bruise on her eye in some of them. I guess it just adds to the memory and at least those pictures are done for another year!!!

Secret Visitor

Last night...after another long day, Neil and I decided to rent a video and watch it after we put the kids to bed. I look forward to this time of night. A time when I can just relax and not have to referee kids or tell friends they have to go home. A time when I can just unwind...finally!

After we had started the movie, we could hear a little noise coming from around the corner...Jacob. So, of course having to stop the movie and put him in bed is another 10 minute task. But finally, he was down...or so we thought. After the movie, Neil and I turn the TV off, clean up a bit and prepared to head upstairs. Just as I am about to make my way up the stairs I find my secret visitor, Jacob had fallen asleep on the bottom stair. Who knows how long he had been laying there. Who knows how long he would have stayed there. He was so deep in sleep that he did not even wake up as I was cleaning up around him and even taking these pictures. This was not the first time he had wanted to be close to us and fell asleep doing it. It has been a while, but we grabbed a pictures of that night too.

Happy Birthday Princess

Although this blog entry is a few days late, I wanted to make an entry wishing my precious little two year old, Happy Birthday. Our lives have changed so much having a little girl in the house. I was so anxious to get you here that I tried EVERYTHING in the book. Hot sauce, castrol oil (three times), walking, bumpy rides, loud music, and even a few that I do not want to spell out here. Your Grandparents were scheduled to leave on their mission in a week and I wanted them to be there when you came into this world. Man did I stress myself out over it!! Anyway, you did decide to come early...two weeks early!! My love for you was instant. There was no denying you belonged to me with your blonde hair, which quickly showed signs of curl. How I love those curls!! Although you stared out a quiet baby, it did not take long for you to find those lungs. Your brother adores you and we love him back just as much. You call for him around the house only it comes out..."Jay jay." Fortunately, Jacob knows you are calling for him.

These two years have been ones I will Cherish. You will always be my precious little princess. Just please... do not grow up too fast. I want to take in every moment I can and remember.

Rexburg... memories

Neil's grandmother passed away last week. She died on Paiges 2nd birthday and lived in Tetonia, which is about 30 minutes outside Rexburg, ID. We just got back yesterday from the funeral. Although we were there for sad circumstances, we really had a good time being together with Neils family. I think it was a good opportunity for all of us to get to know each other alot better. Although I have known Neil for almost 10 years, I have not spend extended periods of time with them.

We all stayed at the same hotel and rooms in real close proximity to each other. We were there for two nights and some of the highlights were just hanging out together and playing in the pool. It was also VERY weird to be back to the place of so much mischievous acts during my college years. Here I was with my husband and kids driving around my old stomping ground. Of course I had to drive by my old apartment!! Things have changed so much since I went to school there. The Temple is almost complete and campus has almost doubled. Of course, who could go to Rexburg and not find some mischievous prank to play. Luckly, my sister-in-laws were right there with me. We decided to attack the doors of the family members who decided to go to bed early!! Good times! Of course, I would have loved to call a couple of boys apartments and told them "the rooster crows at dawn" or "check the oven." I guess only some of you are going to get that!!