Poor Baby!

In the good ole' summertime!

 Our puppy will dig in the yard.

 She looks so cute and innocent!

 The flowers are loving all the rain and cool weather!  And we like sitting out on the deck for morning coffee!

 Summer nights in the backyard.

A very Merry Christmas Eve to our family...

as we welcomed a new furry baby!  It was sooo hard to say "Goodbye" to Chevy.  We didn't think we could go through that again...but...wow...did we miss the little pitter-patter of doggie feet!  We weren't planning on looking for or finding a puppy...till we woke up December 24.  Ted and Teddy went exploring.  Kari was browsing the ads online.  And...well...it just all came together...when a lady called me back to tell me her friend had one little female Teddy Bear puppy left.  "Would you like her name and number?"

 Grandma and the girls went out to shop...and ended up at the breeder's home...and fell in love with a cuddly little Bichon-Shitzu mix called a Teddy Bear.  We met her mommy and saw a picture of her daddy...where she gets her brown ears from!  She cuddled right up on me...then I let the girls hold her.

 We all were mesmerized!

 We brought her home with us!  It was so fun to share this with Grandma!  We headed to Farm and Fleet to pick up food and a few things we needed to care for our new baby.

 The girls babysat in the Yukon...and Grandma and I giggled our way through the store.  "We have nothing for a baby!  I need to think...what will we need?"  I should have gotten a cart!

 Meeting Teddy...

 Meeting Papa...

 All this excitement is tiring!

 Cuddling with Dad...

 Awake again to play with her human chew toy!  She loves Teddy!

 She comes to Mom to cuddle and be assured that this is ok.  Melt my heart...what a way to relax!

 Cuddling with Grandma...and wanting desperately to make friends with Sammie.  He doesn't want anything to do with her!  An unexpected and unplanned gift we chose as a family...

our furry baby, Velle.  

Short for Chevelle...we had a Chevy...it just sort of made sense (well, that...and the guys didn't like our first choices.  And...we didn't like their choice of Torque Wrench!)  She is a sassy, playful little thing that made the adjustment to our family very well! 

Special memories of our fuzzy friend came...

 Alisha designed a blanket.

 Ashlynn designed a pillow case.

 I'm not sure about the kiddos or Ted...but I got a little teary eyed when I opened the package!

 Teddy designed a throw pillow cover for his bed.

Some nights...it is really quiet without the jingle of a collar, bark for a treat, and the tapping of little feet across the kitchen floor.  Lollie and Caden are coming to stay with us for a couple days...so we will enjoy some doggie kisses...from Lollie, of course!

It has been a tough 48 hours!

Our family said "Goodbye" to our little fuzzy white dog this morning.  It was one of the hardest parenting moments we have had.  Ted and I have been watching Chevy, knowing that we were going to have to visit the vet and make some decisions.  Last Sunday afternoon we all watched Chevy struggle and had to help him...this had been happening more and more.  We talked as a family and cried.  We agreed on how things would be handled.  I made an appointment with the vet, but couldn't get in until Thursday.  Ted and I went on Thursday afternoon and talked with the vet and we both cried.  I was relieved to find out that Chevy wasn't in any pain, but there was nothing we could do to prevent the effects of aging.  Last night, we sat down as a family and discussed the decision that Ted and I have wrestled with for awhile.  We knew it would be hard...we just weren't prepared for how hard it would be.  Our hearts broke as we watched our children absorb the reality of saying "Goodbye" to our little buddy...our first baby...our watch-dog turn lap dog...our little heartbeat at our feet.
Ted and I hardly slept.  We got up this morning and found Teddy and Ashlynn sleeping on the floor next to Chevy's cage.  They all got up and sat on the couch with him.  How do you know when you make the right decision?  How will this affect our children?  Will we actually be able to do this?
Taking Chevy from the arms of the children who have only known life with him...was really hard!
I am thankful for a husband who had the idea of pulling up our blog and mirroring it last night so we could take a trip down memory lane together.  We did some more reminiscing tonight.  It has been a quiet day with red, puffy eyes off and on.  Chevy was part of our family for 15 years and 9 months...a gift to me from Ted...to keep me company when he worked nights.  Thankful for the memories...both funny and not so funny...they are all sweet now!
It is quiet tonight...no barking and woofing for treats...no tapping of his little toenails on the kitchen floor...
...and about the time that I think I'll be ok...the tears roll down my face unexpectedly.

On the seventh day of December...

it is all about Chevy...and some unplanned issues to deal with that he has caused me!  (Once again...you have to creatively fit the words to the tune and vice versa)  He's cute, isn't he!?  He had a spa day...that ended up costing me twice what I was planning on.  The gal was looking him over and found "flea dirt".  Eeek, I treated him...I explained I had found a flea on him.  Oh...and we had moved into a home in which the previous owner's also had a dog. (Duh)  Didn't think about fleas on our cleaning day...could have treated before all the furniture came in!  Drat!  She explained that the fleas were bad this year due to the mild winter last year.  Then I remembered the problem with fleas from years ago...Michigan soil...sandy...fleas thrive!  Double drat!  So...a special flea bath and a can of treatment equaling the cost of my initial spa plan...Chevy is all purtied up and I got the house, rugs, blankets all treated, washed, and vacuumed.  I can't stop itching now...maybe I need a flea bath!  I was fine this morning...but then our nice, new groomer lady showed me we had a little problem.
Isn't that something....sometimes....someone has to point out that we have a real problem before we know to deal with it!  My day got changed around...but I was able to take care of things before we all were suffering from the affects of fleas. 

Sunday dinner at our house

Chicken, mashed potatoes, peas...

We all were enjoying the time around the table together.

Now...for the other angle.  Every time Ashlynn has the bench...Chevy is right there licking his chops.

She told him to "Get down."  So he laid down on the bench...out of sight.

Tracking the day by the dog's napping positions...

morning

early afternoon

late afternoon

evening

He has found his routine again!

 

And so have we.  It wasn't as bad getting UP this morning...it was the getting GOING that hurt!

 But we took care of our morning routine...used the new pencil sharpener and got busy!  "Mom, this is the sharpest our pencils have EVER been...all evenly sharpened and not breaking the second you start to use them."  Yes...we have had issues with our pencil sharpener...evidently...it was dull.  Now we are using our festive pencils!  Wood pencils are great...it is the festive wraps that mess up the sharpeners...I'm guessing.

 

I am busy at my desk too...

finding all sorts of ways to fill our days...with our newly sharpened pencils!

"Tomorrow is a new day...with no mistakes in it...yet!" said Miss Stacey to Anne.

That scene from Anne of Green Gables plays in my mind every time I look at a new calendar...

a record of our routine...and looking ahead because we know...

the best is yet to come!

Was it hard for anyone else to get back into the groove today?

We did fairly well...considering Ted called this morning to make sure we were up.  It was a good thing he called...I thought it was 6:30am.  It was 7:10am!  Whoops!  Alarms are already set for tomorrow.  There was a little whining about having to get up and get going...but after our coffee...we managed.  Chevy seemed to have the hardest time!  He wandered back and forth like he didn't know what to do.  He kept whining while the kiddos were downstairs in the schoolroom, and he snuck down several times.  He didn't have anyone to cuddle up with on the chairs or couch.

On the tenth day of December...

naughty dogs a-begging!  Ashlynn told us at the lunch table today that she gives Chevy bits and pieces so that is why he always hops up next to her when she occupies the bench seat. 

If it is not the kiddos...it is the dog!

I bought a different kind of dog food yesterday.  It said it had a "special formula for joint health for older dogs".  It is the same color and size of the food we have been using, just a different brand.   BUT...Chevy must not appreciate my concern for his nutrition and overall health.  He is leaving piles of food all over the livingroom.  That "can't teach an old dog new tricks" saying should be "can't change an old dog's food"!

I guess this "won't be a do-again" meal/buy/idea!

If it is not the people in this house being picky...it's the dog!

Naughty Dog Strikes Again!

Teddy learned how important it is to put the garbage bag into the can correctly...then adding the lid...today.  Since he is the garbage man here...he also had to clean up the mess...that Chevy (and consequently...he) had made.  Thankfully...we don't have diapers here anymore...so it was wrappers and envelopes...for the most part.

The scent of pine...sol...through the house...

reminds me how helpful my children have become!  Especially when they would like to do something, they can do their jobs quickly.  It is then the quality that must be called into question.  So...I have another label or hat as a mother...Quality Control Engineer!  Sounds so much more official than Nag...don't you think?
Happy cleaning to you...or in my case...happy sniffing the cleaning to you!
My job for the day was mapped out for me on Saturday night.  Chevy's cage was not appropriately latched and he roamed free all day...sniffing out anything that we neglected to care for.  The cage was to be latched...Mom shouldn't have to take care of everything as we walk out the door!
Well, naughty dog struck again and ate most of the contents of a bag of sour candy in our pool bag.  He then proceeded to throw it up in different rooms of the house all day and then all night.  I did the initial cleanup.  Today...it is time to hit the greenish colored spots with a vengence.
 It took me a few minutes Saturday night to realize this purge was going to last quite awhile!  Mom, remember the candy corn incident?  After penning him up in a place with his water and towels, I was able to get some sleep. 
When I woke up...he wasn't there. My heart flip-flopped...Ted was gone and no Chevy...yes, I thought this time might have done him in! 
I walked toward the kid's rooms...and there he was standing and looking at me wagging his tail.  I asked him if he was better...he cocked his head and then stretched.  I would be sad if something had happened...but I still get very exasperated with the messes that occur.
At least we can't smell the sickeningly sweet, fruity smell anymore...and right now, my nose is burning from pine scented cleaning agents!  And the escapades of the naughty dog will continue for an undetermined time...thankfully!

Ohhhh...how cute!

Yes, he is adorable.  He also likes packaged brownie mix and taco shells...without all the other ingredients added.  He doesn't mind the taste of cardboard box as long as the inside plastic bag opens easily.  He is not fussy about where he eats this delicious variety of food...kitchen floor, familyroom floor, and our bedroom floor.  When you don't have fingers to grasp the box firmly, I guess you are at the mercy of wall and furniture placement as you bite and tear through packaging.  We fall for it every time!  He is so cute cuddled up on the couch or chair when we get ready to leave...we start letting him stay out of his cage.  This time...we forgot to put the baby gate in front of the "pantry shelf".  Back to locking him in his cage...and looking for door ideas for the shelf unit...a fabric curtain does not stop a naughty dog!

"More snow!? Couldn't you have told me before I came out?"

"Put the camera away and let me in!"

Good thing I didn't pay for it!

Our church enjoys bread on occasion from one of the local grocery stores, and I always grab a loaf of two.  This week I grabbed three, since we had to make sandwiches for our after church fellowship on Sunday night.After being gone for about an hour on Saturday, this is what we came home to...pieces of bread all throughout the house.  The naughty dog struck again!  He jumped up to snatch a bag off the counter and then proceeded to tear into it.  We had crumbs from one end of the house to the other.

First day back to school...and it is a Monday!

Chevy has the right idea! 
We have suffered two injuries this morning...Teddy ran into the shelf and hurt his head.  How...I don't know and he can't tell me.  It's Monday.  He just fell off his chair and twisted his ankle.  How...I'm sure I have the answer for that...but his tears are real and he doesn't need me to add insult to what he already knows.  It is the first day back to our regularly scheduled program...and it is going ok...well, for the most part!  I am so thankful that I don't have to go out for schooling purposes today!!!  It is cold outside!!!

They almost look angelic here...don't you think?!

Our first measurable snowfall of the year...

Teddy trekked out to the shed this morning to retrieve the shovels out of the shed before the doors freeze shut.  Then he shoveled...mostly the yard...but he shoveled.  Chevy made tracks this morning...at 4:45 a.m.  Waking up to the pitter patter of little feet by the back door, being slammed in the face with cold, and waiting for him to take care of business...not my idea of a nice wake-up call!  It is still very dark then...all creatures should still be sleeping!  We are going to have a little chat that dog and I...after he wakes up from his morning nap!