What is that thing?

So Friday we were supposed to be leaving for the Cash of Hope Auction.  By 5:15 my wonderful husband was still not home.  I am getting impatient.  Not only would he not tell me what "errand" he needed to run that was keeping him, but the babysitter was here which meant we were on the clock.  That clock is expensive so hanging around is not in the budget.

Finally at 5:20 up pulls the van.  Robb gets out, hands behind his back, weird cockeyed smile breaking across his face.  As he approaches the house he pulls out his hands and reveals....a rat...{ahem} puppy.  A tiny, 1.8 lb chihuahua puppy (you can understand the rat mistake, they are hard to differentiate.)

My kids and I were dumbfounded.  If you could only have lived the history of the no dog policy at our house for the last 7+ yrs.  We've tried dogs, it hasn't fared well, so for the last number of years the drill sergeant (I call him this lovingly ~ he teaches boot camp fitness classes so it fits) has had a firm "no" stance to animals of any kind.  No one could believe this turn of events.

But alas it is true.  We are the proud new owners of a puppy.  A very tiny, very cute puppy named Yoda.  He is turning out to be very manageable too so we are all happy about our newest addition.

My poor, tortured children keep asking if we are really keeping him.  This after being robbed of the first family pet 5 or so years ago.  (That story will have to be shared later but the short version:  I bought the kids a Shitzu puppy that only lasted about 2 months and then I got rid of it.  All I can say is it had more "Shit" in it than "zu".)   But Yoda is here to stay.  We are all on board this time around.  

Rule #1 in pet owning...everyone has to play along.               

Rule #2...everyone has to want the thing.   

I think Yoda's odds are good.

Way to go Dad!

Kids say the darndest things

So yesterday I was driving my kids to church and Joey discloses that "not next year, but the year after that he will be going to Junior High youth group instead of the kids church."

Joey wearing his brother's space helmet

We almost had a fatal crash on the Badger as I realized that this was true.

What is going on at my house?  These kids are growing at break neck speed.  It's insanity.

When I picked them up Joey was playing soccer with the Junior High kids.  As he got into the van he explained.  "I figured since I'll being hanging out with the Junior Highers in a few years I should start getting used to it."

On our drive home the "growing up" talk continues as my two boys discussed where they would live when they get older.  Joey declared that he would be staying in Lynden so that his kids could go to LC. (He knows how to get in his mom's good books.)  Riley cannot believe this.  He empathically declares that he will be moving to New York so that he can be in a big city.  And if NY doesn't work out then he'll settle for California or Oregon.  Where do they come up with this stuff?

Mother's Day

My kids made hearts out of paper clips to decorate for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is joyous and sad for me. My mom passed away almost 12 years ago and every spring, when Mother's Day approaches, I can't help feeling like I got gipped.

My mom was an amazing lady and I was so blessed to have her for the first 20 years of my life. The problem is, I wasn't ready to spend the next 20 without her. She was one of those moms that always had an answer, was always ready to listen, and always knew that shopping heals a girl's heart. She was the best!

I miss you Mom!