A Girl and Her Puppy

I love watching Pippi's relationship with Hunter develop. Hunter thinks of Pippi as a puppy. She loves to rough house with him and play in ways only a kid can play. When she takes the leash, he gets so excited.

Sunday we all piled into the car and went to the park. Pippi's job was to take the leash; my job was to push the stroller. On the other side of a wrought iron fence about five dogs started barking. I would have just pulled Hunter away, but Pippi was excited to introduce Hunter to some other dogs, so she ran up to the fence and let Hunter sniff them. I wasn't entirely comfortable with this at the time, so I intervened, sending the dogs away and calming my overly-excited dog. However, though Pippi handled the situation much differently than I, I think it was good. She saw those dogs as potential friends. If I had had the leash I might have unintentionally sent the message across that they were enemies.

Pippi is always so happy to do anything for Hunter. She loves to feed him, walk him, play with him, and even pick up his poo. Hunter can always count on Pippi.

He's Baaaaack

This past week, Bardo was sick with a stomach flu. He'd only eat fishy crackers, he wouldn't drink much water; he'd sleep restlessly, crash on the floor at 6:00 p.m., wake at Hunter's first bark, and want to be held all the time.

Yesterday, he kicked off the day by dumping a box of Cheerios. Today he was back to climbing on the table, stealing handfuls of Pippi's food, eating dog food when I told him he couldn't take Pippi's, banging his head on the floor when I told him not to eat dog food. He's back to eating, in general. The kid was ravenous today. I even got him to eat a couple of pieces of chicken, which he's never liked before. He was back to taking the dog's toys, teasing me with the telephone and remote controls. He discovered that he could pull things off the counter today. He also practiced his newest word, "mine," on Hunter all day long when Hunter would try to take things out of his hands. He also innocently snatched Pippi's paints off the table as soon as she pulled her brush out of the container. It's good to have my boy back, but it's NOT easier.

Halloween Preview

Here are the kids right before the Trunk or Treat activity for church. Pippi had to wear her crocs because she was riding her bike. The Warlock followed her on roller blades with pink hair. I could kick myself for not getting a picture. Quinn and Hunter and I brought the trunk. And NO I didn't dress up the dog.

I've been tagged

Thanks Amberly! Maybe this will bring me out of my blogging rut! The rules are to post 6 items about yourself (habits, traits, deep dark secrets, etc.) on your blog, then tag 6 more people to do the same.

1. I'm sitting here drinking water. Exciting, huh? Well, just so you know, I love water. There is no better drink. My hair is damp because I just took a bath. I didn't used to like baths, but now, I do, because we have jets in our master bathtub.

2. I just started reading The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook. I also finished the Twilight series. Before I read Twilight I felt like I was at book club unprepared. I loved the story, but I don't believe I've ever read a book with more declarations of love. I wonder if there would be any way to delete those and still have a good book. Also, I have a bad habit. I start reading a book, and it's all I can do until it's complete. I enter an imaginary world, and I can't get out until I've explored all there is to explore.

3. My sister just had her first baby! She's going to be the best mommy in the world.

4. While Amberly's dejunking and organizing, I'm sitting here blogging while I've lived in a house for four months and I still have boxes that need to be unpacked. We all have different levels of tolerance for disorderliness. And I'm nothing if not tolerant.

5. I have a new calling in my brand new ward: primary pianist. I think I may be the luckiest person on the planet! I was with a friend a couple of years ago who asked me if I played the piano. I told her that I did, but that I wasn't that great. I also mentioned that I hadn't ever really wanted that knowledge to be made public because I was afraid that I would only ever get to play the piano in church. She replied, a primary president at the time, "Exactly, you Silly Witch, all you'd ever have to do is play the piano." She was right. This is so great. So thanks Mom and Dad for all those years of lessons.

6. This morning I slept in until 6:15. I had plenty of time to get ready to go running at 6:45 with some friends, and then Bardo woke up. So I started making him breakfast and told the Warlock that I was planning on running. Unfortunately he was planning on a long bath. Pippi came downstairs saying, "Mom, I want to help you today." "Pippi, will you feed Bardo so I can go on a run?" And she did it! And she took care of Hunter, too. What a kid.

I'm tagging: Jess, Jaime, Shelly, Melissa, Diane, and Kristy. Have at it!

Lecture

Today Pippi gave me a lecture as I walked and she rode her scooter home from school.

Pippi (in tears): Mom, you and Dad made a mistake.

Me: What are you talking about?

Pippi (still in tears): You should have picked a house closer to my school. (Really emotional, now.) It's so hot in Texas, and I don't even have a friend to go with. I have a lot of problems. If only you and Dad would have picked a house closer to my school.

Me (trying not to cackle): Well, we're almost home, hey, and look the sun just went behind a cloud.

Pippi: Mom, I'm not talking about how close we are to home right now. I'm talking about how close my school is to our house.

Me (as I think about how many times a day I make the walk): Well, Pippi, we don't have to walk. I thought you wanted to ride your scooter home. I'll just bring the car to pick you up tomorrow.

Pippi (trying to be calm, but still quite emotional): But I like to ride my scooter and my bike. Just not so far. Mom, you should have bought a closer house.

And it went on and on and on and on, and then we got home. And the subject changed and she tried to convince me to make sushi for dinner. I don't even know how to make sushi.

Rebecca's Birthday Party

Hunter

I think it's funny how dogs always park underneath the high chair. Hunter slept on the nice cool floor this afternoon for a good hour.

Sweeping with a smile

I'm happy to report that Bardo has not inherited my innate distaste for sweeping, well, at least for brooms anyway. When I was in 5th grade I tearfully told my Dad that I couldn't sweep. I followed with the question, "Isn't their anything that you just can't do?" And sometimes I still feel like I can't sweep. Sweeping never is done perfectly, there are always a couple of tiny crumbs that can't get picked up, and that really bothers me.

A New Member of Our Family

I have yet to take pictures, but we are so excited to welcome a yellow labrador puppy into our home. We love him even though he piddles. We're trying to name him. Does anyone have any ideas?