Chad Eats Dog Treats

 St Patrick's Day

But they taste like jerky, so it's no biggie.  And made of pure chicken.  So yes, I had to try it too after he did...and I think he'll live.  But they're practically hard as a rock!

In other news...Chad got 4 A's and 2 B's.  Sarah got straight A's with several A pluses.  And their teachers love them.  I'm so proud!  They had to work really hard for that.  And my dog even learned how to sit today!  Good things are happening around here.

Don't even recognize her when wet!

Fluffy again...much better.  Sarah's favorite way to hold her.

I announced to the kids that Dad had four more days left to close a bunch of sales for the end of his sales year and bring home the bacon so they started making up signs and cheers for him!  Alyssa and Ava were marching around chanting, "Go Russ!  Go Russ!" and singing some made up song for him and Russ was doing a hip hop dance to their beat.  Super cute.  Four more days!  GO RUSS!  He's SO close to making quota in his first year with his new career.

Chad is on the school JV basketball team and has loved it.  The kids are super genuine and supportive and cheer him on from the bench and on the court.

And the quote of the day had to be from Sarah.  Watching a church broadcast and choir perform she saw the guest artist and said, "LOOK!  She's playing the harpoon!"  I'm like, "Um...harpoons kills whales.  That's not a harpoon."  I'm glad she doesn't know everything just yet!

Or maybe it was Chad completely serious..."Dad, is it bad to be totally awesome?"

Life Changing Puppy Love

 
It all began with a phone call.  My sister-in-law Liza said, "Lola's mom and dad had puppies again!"  My heart leaped out of my chest, I squealed, and the 2 month planning process began.  We love their dog Lola and prayed for one of our own.  Liza changed our life.

We kept it a secret from the kids.  Russ flew to visit family in Utah and picked her up.  Everyone at the airport thought he was carrying around a stuffed animal until she moved!  Even the flight attendants were taking pictures of her.

The first night was horrible.  She slept in her kennel in our bathroom, and she cried and wailed and barked ALL NIGHT LONG.  Almost every hour.  No sleep.  And I was trying to keep her quiet because I wanted to surprise the kids the next day after school!  Thank goodness the next night was perfect.  No more kennel at night for her until she likes it.

Ava and I played with her and let her sleep on us for 5 hours straight the first day!  Ava didn't even eat breakfast or lunch because she was just too happy.
 She couldn't stop to eat. I forced her to eat at 2 pm.   She can't part with her.  She cried when I made her put the puppy in the kennel while I showered.  Got nothing done that day!  Supervising this puppy is a full time job.

Mom and Dad came over to see the kids come home from school and freak out.  Mom even brought dinner like she would for the mother of a newborn.  And boy did I need it with no sleep and no desire to cook!  I was mentally not available for regular duties.

The kids did not disappoint.  They love her more than I could even have imagined.  They hate going to school because they miss her.
 This puppy is SO sweet, so patient, so soft, so tiny, so playful, so much work, so loving, so cuddly, so life changing.  I still can't believe it but it's also so very real. 

I'm still freaking out. 

  

Dancing King

This picture is first only because I like it so much!

Where do I even start?  My first child went to his first dance tonight!  The conversation tonight went like this..."How many squirts of cologne did you use?"...  "Did you brush your teeth?"  He looked and smelled great... and he knew it.  Then on the way there...

"OH DARNET!  I forgot to teach you how to slow dance!!!" 

He thought he knew and showed me in the car some moves like he was swing dancing.  "Okay, I'm going to sneak you into a room and I'll show you.  Just don't let your hand slip too low on her waist!"  I pulled him into the RS room, and taught him how.  He had NO idea...so I'm so glad I showed him!  I stayed for a few songs, and I couldn't help but beam with joy.  He was in his element.  The girls were so happy to see him and gave him hugs.  He slow danced like a pro.  And on the fast dances the 8th grade kids formed a circle with him dancing in the middle the whole time.  He LOVES to dance.   Now, I hope someone else got a turn in the middle eventually because Chad was there the whole time for a few songs!!!!  Need to work on taking turns next. 

(Update...looks like Chad had 20 people around him in the circle and at times people copied his moves.  He said some guy "stole his spot" and did a better caterpillar than he did, but he's "still the better dancer".  Another guy told him to take a break which is a good thing because Chad said he almost threw up he was dancing so hard!  And it's only polite to take turns in the middle anyway.  We'll work on that.)

I shed a tear on the way home so happy for him.  I wish the me right now could talk to the me 10 years ago and tell her about this night.  She would be filled with joy.  Life is good.  Really good.

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My kids have been begging begging BEGGING for me to make a blog post lately.  Almost every day.  They LOVE this family blog.  Sorry kids!  I know I'm lagging a bit, but I've been cleaning up after you so maybe if you pick up your junk I can get to blogging more often. ;)

So here's the month in review...

Sarah and Paige did full make-up, hair, and photo shoot for the girls and the girls were loving it.

Got my once a year hair cut.  The view at Mom and Dad's in winter is spectacular.

First snow day in 2 years.  No school!

I shrunk Sarah's favorite dress like 2 or 3 sizes.  It's now Alyssa's favorite dress.

Burnt toast because every kid needed me at once and I forgot about it!  Good thing Russ found it or it could have caught on fire.

Alyssa performed in Dr. Suessical the Musical!  She aced her super long part.

Ski free food drive and date night!  We owe these awesome dates to Sarah.

On top of the world at Mount Spokane!

Chad had his 14th birthday party at Laser Quest and here at the house.  He was in Heaven!

The sphere in the middle is the Death Star, or a ball covered in frosting... one kid licked the whole thing!

The End