Illness & Puppies...

Prepare for TMI...skip the next paragraph if you aren't in the mood.

I have been sick...so sick. I have a bladder/kidney infection that actually made me vomit. A lot. Ugh. That's never happened before. I'm on day three of antibiotics & anti-nausea meds and am a bit better but still not great at all. I called the Drs office back to see what they think.

A much happier topic - puppies! Our little German Shepherd pup is 7 weeks old now and we will be able to drive out to Iowa to pick him up. We've decided to name him Romeo and are hoping he will make a fantastic therapy dog. His training will begin immediately with bonding with the family through play and gentle handling, house training, and socialization. I like my puppies to meet 100 people in their first year so he will go with us everywhere possible, especially after he's completed his puppy shots. It's a lot of work but it is really FUN for me and I know that laying that good foundation can make for a fabulous dog & therapy work partner.

So...can't wait to go meet my new little guy! (I just have to get better.)

Care For a Bite of Africa or South America?

The boys & I have been learning all about the world, the continents, oceans...lots of great stuff. So, I thought it would be fun if they could make their own continents...to eat!

Each boy frosted a round cake with the ocean & then the continent of his choice.

After the art work was completed, it was time for dessert. Yum!

Just Us...

 Sorry if it sounds corny, but those four guys in that pic. are all dear answers to my prayers. I sure am thankful for them.

" Why yes, I am that Mother who dresses her kids all alike!"

(It makes it so much easier to keep track of them running off in all directions. And guess what? They actually love it. So cute!)

Cutie-boy-Mark showing off how his adult teeth are growing in.

Lately...

Lately things have been going well, no crisis, school running smoothly etc. :) It's nice! John did make a very quick trip up to ND and back (picture above) recently to help move disaster relief supplies for Samaritan's Purse. They were in ND to assist with the recent flooding & are now relocating to help out in the NE USA.

The boys have also been playing lots of soccer. Last Sat. they had three games between them and the weather was wet and cold. I was proud to hear no complaining at all (Wow!) but I did catch this pic. of them alll huddled under an umbrella at a break. Cute!

Jake loves to come watch the games so we bundled him up for the day. He has been having more arthritis pain lately so I have put him back on his pain meds and he is feeling much better on them. We sure love that quirky old guy.

A Surprise

OK. I am excited! John gave me such a great surprise today! He got me a puppy! Not just any puppy either - a male German Shepherd from our favorite German Shepherd breeder EVER! Royalair GSD's (in Iowa) are amazing dogs & John reserved me a pup from a recent litter that I am really excited about. They have great potential as future therapy dogs, which is my very favorite thing to do with my dogs.

These are the parents, with the female being the first, lighter colored one. Both have super temperments & the Mom is OFA Good & the Dad is OFA Excellent. This is a BIG deal in German Sheps. Our first GSD, Emma, was from this same family of dogs & was a wonderful dog, so we are really expecting good things from this new little guy.

As far as buying from a breeder vs. rescue, we are big proponents of rescue & our other 2 dogs & cat are all rescues. However, this time we are adopting from a responsible, excellent breeder & I feel good about that too.

More on my new puppy love soon - he's only 5 weeks now so we don't get to pick him up for awhile yet...can't wait to kiss a nice fat, pink, puppy tummy!

First Day of School

So far school is going well for us. We are liking our curriculum a lot & attitudes are pretty good.

Luke & Nathan were taking a break while I gave Mark some 1:1 instruction. When I went to see what they were up to, I found two little "wrestlers" with protective padding (ie: teddy bears & clothes shoved under clothing)! So funny & cute!

Mark really wants to learn how to cook this year, so here is "Home-Ec 101", otherwise known as "chopping veggies for dinner".

Mother Theresa Quote

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!

Funny Jake, Funnier Nathan

We all think our Boxer, Jake, is pretty funny the way he sits on our deck waiting to be let in, wearing his very best "sad dog" expression.

I laughed even more the other morning when I noticed Nathan had joined him out there & was trying to copy his sad, hanging lips look!

Grandfather Mountain

We had a great afternoon "playing" recently & I got some great pics.

Why yes, these are quite the handsome guys aren't they? I love them SO much & am very thankful for them. (Except for when I'm not -ha! ha! - gotta keep things real here! We are a normal family that occasionaly do drive each other crazy! But usually - we are nuts about each other & I love that about us.)

Mark, Luke & Mildred, the bear

Nathan just loved this huge stuffed bear! So cute!

Photographic proof that I was there too! I am usually the one taking the pics.

Flexible Nathan