more changes

This week brought more changes to our house.  Luke started biting me and in the end I was very scared, so Luke had to be returned to the rescue group.  The positive in this, when we drove into the shelter, Luke went so crazy, happy.  He knew where he was and he was excited to be with more dogs.  The positive for us, we learned what we really needed as a family.  We needed an older dog, smaller dog, and one that was used to be in a house most of the day.  Bug asked for a dog small enough to sleep with him and a dog he could help walk and train.  Everyone was happy by the end of today.

I drove Luke back to the shelter on Thursday, on the same day, someone left this little dog in the drop off box at the humane society.  We saw his picture on Friday and I hoped we could see him today when we went to the humane society to see dogs.  We have 2 humane societies in our city.  At the first one, we saw 3 dogs, but none of them made a connection with us.  So we headed out to the second location.  As we walked thru the kennels, I saw this dog, not recognizing him from the website.  What struck me was how calmly he was laying in his cage and his intelligent eyes.  We saw a few more dogs we might  have been interested in.  At the second humane society, you see the dogs individually in a room, the volunteers bring each dog to you separately. 

This dog was the first on our list, he played with us, let us pet him and was just awesome.  But I wanted to be sure so we asked to see the other 2 dogs on our list.  Neither of them made a connection with us, one whined the entire time and the other one was so scared, she kept running away from us.  As we were waiting for the volunteer to come back, another family came in to the room next to us and I something told me they were interested in the dog we wanted, so Mam went to find the volunteer to let her know we wanted the first dog.

The family saw him coming with the volunteer and I heard her tell them that we had chosen him. We signed all the papers and headed home.  On the way home, we tried to figure out a name for the dog because we found out how he came to the shelter- no name, no info, no nothing only 2 days ago.  we decided on.....

Pablo

Bug is in heaven, Pablo is 12 pounds.  The perfect dog size for Bug right now.  Pablo also knows the SIT command.

I even broke one of my dog rules and allowed him up on the couch

Pablo clearly has been well taken care of, he immediately went into the crate and settled in.  We walked him around the backyard and he loves it and he likes to play fetch.  I think this is off to a good start.

Luke will forever be in our hearts and we are praying for the right family for him.

Love and hugs,
Deb

changes

Bug has been talking about getting his hair cut since last weekend.  He wanted to have it shaved (a military hair cut) like one of his friends from cub scouts.  Then he backed off of that idea.  Today was hair cut day, I was going for him to have a trim.  He decided to have it cut off, though not shaved.

I LOVE IT!!!

He looks so grown up.

Now we just have to get Pap to accept it and understand that hair grows back.  But I will not allow Pap to take Bug's choice away from him.  Bug is growing up and he needs to be allowed to make his own choices. It is just hair and he looks so handsome.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Another post where I catch up on all we have been doing

In the last 2 weeks, we visited with hermano for dinner at Cracker Barrel.

 

We went to see the movie BRAVE with our friend M

We have worked on training Luke some more- here he is working on his KONG toy that is filled with treats.

At points in between, I had some very bad migraines and ended up sick from them.  I was so sick on Thursday, that Bug stayed home from Y camp because I was too sick to drive.  This was a bad idea- having Bug and Luke home while I was sick meant, I got no real rest because I had to keep them from fighting most of the day. UGHHHHH

But today was much better, cooler weather temperatures, no migraine and fun for Bug and momma. We started with the cub scout rain gutter regatta.  The boys built their boat from sliced up pool noodles, added a straw and an index card for a sail

Then a test to see if they float.  The boats move down the gutter via straw power- the boys had to use another straw to blow them down the gutter.

The Wolves lined up and ready to go

Bug's boat tipped over in the second heat, but Bug figured out that he could blow the water behind the boat and move it along.  Bug narrowly missed winning this heat.

After the races, waiting for the older boys  to finish their heats.

Then the fire truck arrived

Bug had a great time.

The ultimate winner of the rain gutter regatta got to take a whipped cream pie and push it into the face of one of the leaders.  The winner choose Mr. B

Preparing to be hit with the whipped cream pie

straight into the face

Then Mr. B took the left over whipped cream pie and got the winner's hair.

The boys and siblings then got to have a water balloon fight.

It was all out war

almost done with the balloons

Then the fire truck prepared to hose the boys down.  At this point, the fireman is hooking up the water cannon

And Bug, bending over the edge of the water balloon tub, is hit with the water cannon.  He had no idea that the water was coming.  And yes, all of the parents, me included, were just watching and then laughing when it happened.  Bug was laughing to.

Water cannon

Rub-a-dub-dub, 10 cub scouts in a tub

We came home and had a brief rest, took Luke on a walk and then headed out to the park for a picnic with friends from my college days.

Bug played Frisbee with Mr. Todd

"I don' have the Frisbee, see"

Some more folks got into the game and suddenly 2 Frisbees were in play

It was a good time

really, it was a great day.  Fun for both of us, lots of time to talk with friends and hang out, have good food, and play.  Definitely a keeper day.

Love and hugs,

Deb

fun in the sun with friends

Today was another hot day and I decided that Bug needed some water fun, but water fun is no fun without friends.  So a call to J and N to invite them over, along with their dog, Crackers and we were good to go.

I set up the sprinkler in the back yard, we sprayed the boys with sun screen and bug spray and we turned them and the dogs loose. 

The dogs had a few moments of uncertainty but settled in.  I think Luke was happy to have a friend to play with for a while.

The boys figured out spraying the slide was cool and then decided they were firefighters putting out fires.  I think they played outside for almost 2 hours.  The best part, J and I got to talk the entire time. 

This is Crackers.  Compared to Luke, she is tiny.  I always thought she was bigger.

The dogs, checking out things. 

Silly boy and his dog

Luke trying to convince us to go in.

J and N stayed for dinner- pork roast cooked in BBQ and the end shredded, server on tortillas, corn on the cob and salad.  For dessert, apple pie and ice cream, but the boys choose cookies.

The dogs played fine until the last 30 minutes of visit, then Luke decided that Crackers was deaf and started barking directly into her ears.  He also need decided to play rougher with her.  I was concerned, Bug was concerned, N was concerned, but J was calm.  Crackers held her own and Luke semi calmed down.  I am going to have to ask the trainer about the behavior from Luke. 

Luke is still sleeping off the excitement of the visit, Bug was overly tired from the 2 hours in the sun and I am feeling so much better after being able to talk to a friend for almost 4 hours straight.

It was a good day.  It would have been a great day if we had gotten more than sprinkles of rain in the afternoon.

Love and hugs,

Deb

a hodge podge of things on this 4th of July

Bug and I had a good holiday.  It is sort of nice to have a holiday in the middle of the week, but I am sure wishing that the weekend was starting tomorrow.  But we are back to our usual routine for the next 2 days and then the weekend comes. 

I was able to quilt for an hour today and I finished the 2 blocks of the month for June.  July's are much harder and I have to buy a new ruler, so I might get to start on them this weekend.

This is a Greek Cross variation

And a half square triangle variation.  I really like this design.  I had to start adding blues and greens into the blocks to ensure the quilt will fit in the spare bedroom.  I am going to painting the room (bottom portion) a green/blue color called Spring green.  it looks green in certain light and blue in other light.  It is the same color as the kitchen

I was showing Pap our pictures from Guatemala and came across some pictures that I had not looked at closely- so back to Guatemala we go.

Nigua and Susi listening to Bug's favorite song "be a man" from the Mulan movie.

Self picture from Bug while we are at the zoo with our Compassion kids. I have taught him well.

Josue and Nigua at the zoo.  I like this one very much

Not sure what Popi was doing or thinking here, but Bug got this very candid photo.  I love it!

Nigua, Donald and Josue on a sunny Saturday.

Can Bug make Nigua jealous by loving on her?  Apparently not, Josue just snuggles up next to her too.

Bug and his first family, minus Karla.

Watching the Bug play with Popi.

Good time in Guatemala.

I don't have a way to tie these into the 4th of July holiday- but they make me smile and that is what holidays are for.

Love and hugs,

Deb