How did this happen

This post I think is okay but I still find myself running down Cloverdale (our busy street behind us) wondering how did this happen? How did I get here? We got a dog!!!!! Now I'm not a very vocal person and so you may not know my stance on animals. However if you have followed this blog long enough you read about the turtle and that didn't go well. I don't really like animals. Deep down I did think my kids needed a dog. I remember feeling really sad for my friends who couldn't' have animals growing up. But I hadn't dug that deep yet into the reservoir of my soul. However, Daren had. Little tip here-don't' read Where the Red Fern Grows with your family. I think this is how it all started. That was at least a year ago. So the seed was planted in Daren's heart and possibly mine a little. My kids were already sprouting at that point. Recently Daren brought it up to me and started casually looking around and sending me links or telling me about a certain dog. I thought I had a solid argument that we couldn't' even discuss a dog until we had a fence. That usually put the kibosh on dog talk. But pretty soon I was looking a little too. Then Daren called me and he found an older dog on Craig's list for free! Soon we were visiting her and walking her. Then before we knew it we were picking her up (in our VAN)-I'm pretty sure I swore I would never let a dog in my car. Then she slept inside our house that night(I know I swore that would never happen) and now I'm a full fledged dog owner. She is 7 years old and very well behaved. Daren and I recanted on the sleeping inside mumbo jumbo. We just couldn't take it. She had been an inside dog mainly but she's adjusting. She is really good with my kids and they absolutely l-O-v-E her. I don't think a dog teaches kids responsibility (that argument was made up by some kid and circulated) but it does teach them to think about someone other than themselves right? They will go outside and just hang out with her. Lizza will do her homework after school on the swing set next to Ellie. That is sweet. So I think I'm glad we got a dog- I think.

You'll notice in the pictures that there is no fence. I have no idea how that happened. However, I am happy to report Daren worked so hard ALL day last Saturday and put in our fence! He is the best.

Baptism

I'm trying to give this blog the love it deserves but it's so hard. Not only did Lizza turn 8 but she was baptized. It was such a wonderful weekend. In January Liz and I started looking for baptism dresses. I want to throw in here that I do not like the trend to wear a white dress after your baptism. I think, who wants to wear all white and what mom wants to have the responsibility of cleaning a fancy all white dress? (Can you tell I have laundry issues? Another day another post). Anyway, so I gave it my best effort to talk her into just getting a new dress. One you will wear all year round but it was a no go. Abby got a white dress (true and I wasn't happy about it back then either and she has only worn that dress twice, I rest my point). But Lizza NEEDED a white dress. Okay you can wear Abby's right? All girls wore the same blessing dress they can all wear the same baptism dress-brilliant. Lizza would have none of it. I wish you could see me act her out right now. You'll just have to imagine and read the words.-sorry. "I CANNOT show up in that dress. That dress is not me, it does not say Elizabeth. I won't wear it! If I wear that dress it will make me feel like this (she slumps over head down) and I need to feel like this (chest our head high) on my baptism day." So I debate in my head do I, don't I. I can totally pull the money card-they hear it all the time. But I think whats $20 to buy her happiness? I will take pictures and hang them around so she always remembers that she got to pick her own baptism dress. So then we start our search. I go to ebay so I only have to spend like $20 and not $65! So from here it got bad, real bad. Lizza likes to look "fashionable" her word not mine. She mix matches clothes and asks me if they look "fashionable" on a regular basis. So we start looking at dresses and the gloves come off. This pictures (it's the only one I could find quickly) gives you a taste of what she wanted. Her strong hold (which I can't find a pictures of right now) was a white dress that looked just like the dress Belle wears in beauty and the beast-"with a jacket of course" she tells me to console me. I just kept saying I just can't buy that Elizabeth. Your getting baptized and your 8 not getting married and you 26! This went on for weeks! I kept debating in my head buy her happiness keep my sanity? So we finally compromised. She found this dress during our many ebay searches and just knew it was the one! Plus it came with a jacket we wouldn't have to buy one separately-perfect. She looked beautiful and buying Lizza's happiness....priceless. It came from Hong-Kong and arrived 3 days before the baptism! They even threw in a free hello kitty headband-can't beat that!

The first picture give you a taste of what I was up against.

The 2nd is her dress obviously. I need to take some more pictures of her because there aren't any that explain that dress to see it in person.

3rd, is always my favorite pictures of baptism day

4th thank you family for coming to Lizza's special day and making her feel like this(head up chest out) in her new dress! We loved having all of you and missed those who couldn't make it.

Max

Mr. Max turned 3 and I cannot believe it. He cracks us up all day long with his questions, demands, and reasoning skills. I wasn't aware how much our family needed a boy until we had him for a while. He is his daddy's buddy. But he loves me too he reminds me.

He makes all sorts of shooting, fighting, and I don't even know noises all day long. He loves to have a good book read to him. Any Dr. Seuss will do or right now are favorites are how I became a pirate and some batman/super hero books from the library.

Just a few pics, Max telling you how old he is x 2. Then opening his presents with everyone. Life couldn't get much better than that. He was in Heaven.