First Dog

I just saw on-line that some kid has offered up his Labradoodle puppy to the Obamas. I had no idea that was an option! I feel a compelling urge to rush home and get Suki into the mix. The Obamas would naturally be touched (and I heard they were considering a mixed breed dog and a labradoodle is a "designer dog") and extend me unlimited visiting rights. It is my best shot at playing a critical role in this historic administration. There may occassionally be security issues but as long as I called before coming over and reminded staff that I was "First Dog Donor" I think I'm good.

Bakugan

I've thought about trying to find the words to accurately capture Vaughn's Bakugan obsession for some time now and really haven't been able to. It's like a slow, steady drumbeat that is constantly going in the background of our lives. It's really only problematic when he dissolves into fits of frustration over Bakugan not yet purchased, Bakugan that fall apart (because what can you really expect from a $5 plastic ball), rare Bakugan that can't be located in any store in the metropolitan area, Bakugan left out to where Suki chews them, Bakugan that ended up not being as cool as they looked in the package, etc. etc. Jacob and I try as hard as we can to muster up enthusiasm for his Baku-fever (I even went so far as to bid on Bakugan on Ebay! Which ended up being the wrong one, naturally) but it's hard to for any length of time (I can't believe it took me as long as it did to insist he wear headphones when watching the Bakugan videos on the computer). It's particularly hard to come up with answers to "what is your favorite Bakugan?" and the constant quizzes over the names of the many Bakugan.

This morning, he wandered sleepy eyed and barely awake into the bathroom where I was getting ready. I offered to pick him up and carry him downstairs and he nodded wearily and suddenly perked up, "Mom - you know what's cool about this one Bakugan...."

(The picture is Vaughn's creative modeling when I said I wanted to take a picture of him with his favorite Bakugan).

Early Video

There really isn't anything cuter than hearing Vaughn sing with his baby voice in full force.

Didn't See You There

The rain has brought slugs into our basement- and not the little kind either. Big, fat, brown slimy things that lay down silver tracks everywhere. Tonight I decided I'd scoop the one I'd found up and put it outside. Specifically, I thought I'd put it on the dustpan and fling it outside.

After being chastised by Jacob for showing him my capture (Fine! Yes- it's gross.), I opened the door to fling it out into the night toward the street. The only problem was, as my arm flung I noticed a man walking his dog from the street up on to the sidewalk in front of my house. He quickly ducked and put his arms out. I gasped and said, "Oh no! Did uh...anything hit you?" No - it turned out he was just teasing me (I can only imagine what the view from the street must have been - man out walking in the rain with his dog only to have crazy lady open the door and fling a slug at him).

At that moment Suki bolted outside to menace him and his dog. After doing the usual "she's not dangerous just obnoxious" speech I felt the need to explain to him that I had found a slug in my basement I needed to get rid of. Defeated, I finally said, "I must be your most favorite neighbor right about now." "Yeah," he replied "Great introduction."

Sometimes you win one...

Last night was a miserable knock-down drag 'em out tantrum night. First we had to tell him that Michael had asked if we could limit the number of Bakugan we purchase for the kids to 12 total to stop the insane one-upping each other that was taking place. We agreed and told Vaughn only to be told, "Thank you for delivering the news that you're never going to give me another Bakugan as long as I live!!" Then it was just a sad, series of events that resulted in the usual tears, stomping, door slamming, etc. Sometimes I swear we have a mini-teenager. Peace only came with bedtime.

Tonight though- sweetness and light. I was told that dinner was the best thing he'd ever had (taco salad thankyouverymuch) and after dinner he thanked me heartily and cleared the entire table. A never before seen occurance. To appreciate this you have to understand that sometimes - sometimes - he'll take his own plate to the counter. Kids - they push you the brink of insanity only to lure you back.

PS Picture is of a couple weeks ago with Wendy and Becky's pumpkins - Sydney and Olivia

The Goats

I've decided to find a new home for my beloved kids (keeping only Vaughn). The noise and the mess are more than I (and I do believe my neighbors) can handle. It is very sad but I believe in the end they will be happier with more room. I have found a prospective parent- a 4-H leader no less!- who has 14 years of pygmy experience and has a small heard on 5 acres. I'm very excited and believe the goats will do well there.

I was nervous to tell Vaughn after my attempt to cull the heard by way of re-homing the rabbits resulted in protest but it turns out the only thing he was upset about was that we'd be "down to only 9 animals." Always quick on my feet I said, "I'll buy you two new fish!" Sold.

You Can't Eat Just One

Jacob has long suggested that a way to deal with Suki jumping up on the table and stealing food would be to put something really spicy up there to teach her a lesson. While certainly not intentional, yesterday Suki jumped up on the table and polished off nearly a pound of See's Candy which ended in memorable results - although it remains to be seen how much of this will stick with Suki.

As you probably know, chocolate is toxic to dogs. She threw up on both the couch and "The OPB rug" ("The OPB rug" is a hand-knotted prayer rug and one of my most prized possessions - one, because I actually won it after a pledge drive donation for OPB and two, because it's retail value was more than we would ever spend on a rug. Despite having almost all it's tassels chewed off and being peed and thrown up on multiple times, I still proudly display it in the living room).

Jacob had neglected to tell me she had even eaten the candy until the puking started and as I frantically searched veterinary websites at the computer I read his own words back to him, "While some may be tempted to say 'serves him right for eating the chocolate, he got what he deserved', this is no laughing matter." After doing the toxicity calculations several times, I finally decided that the chances of serious injury did not warrent an expenisive trip to the veterinary hospital.

Approximately twelve hours later (at 3:45 a.m.), just as the website predicted, I had to rescue a whining Suki out of her crate to wisk her downstairs for the first of many desperate bathroom trips. I immediately picked her back up when she came back in the house to avoid her dashing off to a remote corner of the house (there was no way I was taking a chance with her spending the rest of the night out of the crate - the puking had depleted our stash of paper towels). After closing the door the crate I realized I had somehow managed to get poo on both my hand and sweat pants. I washed up both in the bathroom and crawled back into bed - thankful for having an extremely high gross tolerance.