NO MORE!

My daughter wants a new puppy.  Would someone please tell her that she has enough animals already?  2 puppies in one year's time is plenty.  

Besides, when they go from this:


To this:


In only a few month's time, and are showing no signs of slowing down their growth rate, I think they should count as more than one puppy. Don't you?


Victoria certainly does.

HELLO

It's been awhile........

But we're still here.





The spring has come and gone. The kids are growing like weeds.  Since a year ago this spring, Sam has grown 9 inches and gained 60 pounds. My little boy who I used to hold and rock for hours on end is now 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Sadie has been growing as well.



She's now close to 100 pounds. What happened to that little puppy?



We have a new member of the zoo..... His name is Joe. Joe Black Shadow. He needs a new home. He doesn't like sharing the zoo with the other cats and dogs and as a result displays some "displaced aggression." Would you like to take him home with you?

Grandma's still tucked back in the Maine Woods. Muncie is still on the look out for fresh ankles, Victoria is no longer able to jump the fence (thanks to the six foot tall one we were forced to put up...too many unplanned dates with the poodle next door).

The cats murdered my laptop a month or so ago (yes, murder it was. They pushed it off onto the floor....all my pictures, documents, school plans....) I felt as if I had lost my best friend. But you know what? It's been kind of nice not spending so much time on the computer. I can go for long walks with the kids. I can read to them for hours on end (we're in the middle of the Hobbit currently). It's been nice.

But I had a request I couldn't refuse. My cousin. She requested I keep posting. She doesn't live far, but our paths don't cross like they should. We need more memories together. We'll make that happen this summer. So, Elaine...this post is for you.  And just know....tomorrow is today, and I am thinking of you today.   

Someone Needs a Dog Trainer

HEY YOU!

What do you think you're doing?

Who ME?

Why Don't They Stay Little?

Yeah! I found the camera battery charger (under a basket that I keep receipts in), and the phone (in the couch), and a flashlight (while looking for the phone), and the remote (in a different couch...along with a remote that doesn't even belong to us). Now, it's back to tormenting the dogs...



You know, when we got Victoria, she was so small, so cute, so shy. I love her one blue eye, one brown eye. And the vet was so sure she wouldn't be any larger than 20 pounds...or so.....

And baby Sadie...isn't she sweet?

She puts up with so much......

Victoria and Sadie are BEST FRIENDS. BFF's forever.

Don't all BFF's act this way? Neck-to-neck, tooth-to-tooth?















So..I can't believe this tiny puppy grew up to be this big dog...

Notice the table in the background. Yes, she is really that tall. Same puppy that Sophie used to tuck down into her sweater to keep her all warm and cozy. Now she can stand up and put her paws on Sophie's shoulders. I guess she didn't get the 20 pound memo.

And this sweet baby? Sophie can't pick her up anymore. Notice the stool in the background. She is about the same size as Victoria. Trouble is, she's only 3 months old and is still maintaining her same growth rate of a pound a day.

Good thing she's a slug.

All is well at the zoo.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Always Room in the Heart and Home

Aww...Muncie knows we still love her.

And even though Victoria was only supposed to be around 20 pounds full grown and now weighs 38 pounds, still growing, we love her too.

There is ALWAYS room for one more, don't you think?


Sadie has gained almost 5 pounds in the two weeks we've had her. I wonder if that's normal?

We've learned alot about Sadie.

She's SOOOO high maintenance to travel with....


She never holds still for pictures. And no one EVER wants to hold her, except Sophie of course.

"I'm soo sweet and innocent! I'm the PERFECT puppy!"

Doesn't she just melt your heart?

Who could deny that there is always room for one more, be it beast or man?

Someone Knows How To Relax

This is the MOST relaxed puppy I've ever met! You would have to be relaxed to sleep in this position.

Or this position.

Wait! A rare moment! An eye is opening! Wake up!

Someone wants to play with you!

OK. I played. Can I go back to sleep now?

Animal Genetics

There are some things in life that are difficult to explain to people. Like the mutant gene my children and my husband possess. It's a genetic defect that draws them to animals like bees to honey. They are unable to relax completely without an animal on their lap. Other kids have stuffed animals in their beds, my kids have real animals.

It's that same genetic component that allows my daughter to kiss her puppy.

(My friend Laurie is making the scrunchy "ughhh" face right now).

They come by it honestly enough. They inherited it from their father. And, I guess I admit to a similar gene, but I think mine must be recessive because I have the ability to control my instincts in this area.


My daughter can not.

What can I say? There weren't enough dogs to go around. Prince Charming and I have Muncie for a foot-warmer. The boys have Victoria, but poor Sophie had only cats to keep her company. She was deprived. She had to have her own doggy-warmer.

Meet Sophie's Sadie.

9 weeks old.

I'm sure she'll be very happy here at the zoo.