Our Latest Addition

Well, we've done it. We've gone to the "other side." We're now "One of them." We have added a new addition to our family and we'd like you to meet: Tucker.

That's right, you read correctly, I'm mom to a 10-week old puppy. As if Aubrey and Emma couldn't keep me busy enough. I guess I could say that we had to get David another male on the premises. We've been hunting for our "perfect pup" (just humor me, ok?) for several weeks now and we (hope) found him last Saturday. He has been fostered (can you believe that?!?!) for a couple of weeks with a family that has small children and they say he's the best pup they've had in years. They have him crate trained and he has been "altered" (that's the new terminology for...uh-oh, all gone!).

David and I decided we much prefer having 9 months to hammer out a name than just a few days. He wanted something German (Zwingli?) since the puppy is a Doberman mix (probably shepherd or lab). Some of my rather stellar suggestions included Luther, Hans, Schnitzel...(at this point I was crying I was laughing so hard). We thought we had decided on Logan (I talked him out of German) and then the other night he said, "Ya know, I'm really looking forward to getting this little tucker home" and I about jumped out of my chair: "Oh, I really like that - Tucker!" So then began the proverbial struggle over the final name. I'd ask Aubrey what we should name our puppy and one time she'd say Logan, the next time it would be Tucker. So, for today he's Tucker.

What prompted this decision? Well, if you really want to know, give me a call as I can't go into detail here. Let's just say we hope this little guy will deter uninvited guests and repeat offenders, and his adoption was encouraged by both police officers who visited us.

So, if you're up for helping with fence construction in the next few months, let me know! We'd be glad to have the extra hands or you could kid (or puppy) sit while the rest of us dig!

New Year, New Adventures

Happy New Year to you! "We wish you a happy new year and a couple of grins."

• Hope you had a wonderful holiday time with each of your families. We headed to IL on the 21st, stopping in Murfreesboro, TN on the way to see David's older brother and his family. While there, they announced that they are expecting #3 this summer...their s are 11 and 9, and Davina (the mom) is 43. After picking David up off of the floor we wished them (and still do) congratulations. They are still in the process of processing all of this. Can't say that I blame them!! (And I didn't drink any water while I was there, either!)

"I don't think I'll fit on top of the tree, but you can try!"

• We arrived at my parents' on the 22nd to a house full of activity. With 12 people in one house (6 under the age of 9) it made for some...um....how shall I say....chaotic times. But Aubrey loved spending time with Kylie, Caleb, Colin, (he somehow managed to get her in the [pictured] angel costume all by himself!) and Kelah, as well as Kanga their Boston Terrier. Amazingly, she was fascinated the most by my aunt and uncle's horse - I mean golden retriever - Rusty [pictured]. She loved lying in front of or beside him and "talking." After a busy, non-stop visit (mom's have a way of filling up a "schedule" for everyone, don't they?) we headed home this past Thursday, again by way of Murf and landed at home Friday late afternoon. We spent the weekend recuperating and trying to get the s back on their normal routines.

"So, Rusty, what did YOU get for Christmas?"

• Emma's new year's resolution appears to be sitting up without assistance, holding her arms up to be picked up, and waving hello (all of which have been perfected in the last 36 hours). Aubrey's resolution (not to be outdone by her little sister, of course) is to keep this mommy even more on her toes (I'm not a ballerina!!). This morning it seems (I'm not 100% sure that she actually did and hoping that I'm right) that she stuck half of a vitamin up her nose. I tried to have her blow "it" out, and then tried the flashlight/tweezer routine, but I can't see anything, and nothing has trickled out yet (I thought it might dissolve.) We've got a call in to the dr's office to see if mommy should be panicking, but as of yet I'm still calm. All of this and Daddy left for winter school camp this morning and will be out until Friday afternoon!!

"Please, just let me focus..." And then there's the normal, day-to-day operations which include potty training with our twin Minnie and taking our bottle which apparently no one understands how exhausting that task to be. "Ooohhh...Minnie did tinkles!" Hope you have a wonderful afternoon and that your new year is off to a great start!