The Green Boots

I thought I was doing a really great thing for our son - and it turns out that I did! I brought home some green "frog" rubber boots for Brogan a week or so ago...

When we go outside, Brogan always wants to join us BUT if he doesn't have shoes on he's not supposed to come outside! No SHOES no outside! So began our son's LOVE of shoes. He has a lot of shoes!

His feet have been getting wet and cold. I thought a nice pair of rubber boots would be just the thing.

Brogan quickly learned how to put on his new boots all by himself, and how to take them off too. He is so fast at putting them on now that no one can go outside without him right behind them.

Did I create a MONSTER? Yes -- BUT I created a very very happy monster! He has been spending more time outside helping daddy and playing in the yard.

Brogan is Daddy's best helper!

This is great for his parents, since he seems to be wearing himself out enough to go to sleep at bed time! YaY! Mom and Dad go to bed shortly (like 15 minutes after) the kids are all tucked in for sleep!

Brogan with his super awesome GREEN boots

Super awesome super FAST green boots! Catch him if you can!

Happy New Year - Frozen to the Ground

Happy New Year's Eve and the Power went off at around 2:30 in the afternoon.

We played Candyland. We snuggled, the kids played in the hallway with toys. Then at around 6 we decided to go to town for a warm dinner out.

All of us loaded into the Jeep and it had been warming up too. Dusty put it in reverse and guess what!? The tires were frozen to the ground!

Audrey being as emotional as she is freaked out. I told her to take it easy and daddy would fix whatever it was that was keeping us from moving.

Guess he's had experience with vehicles being frozen to the ground! We got going eventually and had a nice filling and warm dinner at the local mexican resturant.

When we got home, the power was still out! So we all cuddled into our big bed and daddy read the first two chapers of Audrey's new book: How to Train Your Dragon.

Then we turned the portable lights out and snuggled down all 4 of us in bed to sleep. Brogan was out first. Audrey wiggled and wiggled and whispered and wiggled and finally SHE HAD to go to her own room to sleep because she couldn't sleep with all of the noise of everyone breathing! Wasn't too long ago when she couldn't go to sleep without the sound of everyone breathing.

Daddy helped Audrey get to her room with Brittney as a bedmate, THEN mom and dad were able to go to sleep.

We woke up around 1:00 am and the power was back on. After turning off the tv in the living room and lights - checking on Audrey and turning on her nightlight, I crawled back into bed and said happy new year to my husband before falling asleep again.

Happy New Year... the power's on and it's warm in here today!

Beware Ye' Service Men

My rule is "Call me before you come over". That way I'm on the look out. Also - PLEASE don't knock or ring a doorbell.

I know that sounds kinda strange and you may think I'm a recluse or just anti-social but we have our reasons! We have a volitile home!

Scenario:

"Knock, Knock"

Romeo - Moluccan Cockatoo starts Screaming like a banshee! It's ear piercing.

Pandora - Sulfur Crest Cockatoo starts barking like a little terrier dog and screaming like a banshee!

Harley - 90 pound American Bulldog with a big scary bark!

Brittney - 45 pound red Cattle dog with a snaggle tooth growl and a big bark!

By the time one of us gets to the door to answer it, it's CHAOS and the poor guy on the other side of the door looks pretty worried.

And if you wake the BABY - my husband can look pretty scary too!

Daddy Pig Pile! Scary hu!?

Stone Fox

Audrey and I finished reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner last night. It was an exciting book.

All up till the finish line. Audrey and I were in shock when after all that had happened, Searchlight's heart burst 100 yards from the finish. Geez - this is an 8 year old I'm reading to, and she understands death quite well, but geez!

We enjoyed the book and the message it had, but I sure wish Searchlight would have surived.

Just like sissy!

Brogan's gotta be a big boy!

Got his own plate, ketchup and spot at the table just like his big sister. This is one happy guy!

Harley

Harley, originally uploaded by Eva D.

Harley is going to the Vet today to be neutered. Poor guy. I told Dusty to have them give him some doggy Valium 'cause he is so attached to Dusty that he cries when he's gone - the WHOLE TIME he's gone.

Separation anxiety big time! Harley is a big love, 85 pound American bulldog.

Old Cougar

2010-10-28 17.20.14, originally uploaded by Eva D.

Power windows & doors. Power seats - kind of amazing for an old '77 cougar.

She's kind of old, but still pretty :)