crazy canines...

So, here's the latest on my furry friends....Maksim went to the vet last week for his shots and for his leg to be checked because he can't seem to get out of my way when I'm walking or sitting. The vet says he's a drama hound. No surprise there. Then he tells me that Maksim has gained 2.5 lbs this year, which on a 10 lb dog is like a 200 lb man gaining 50 lbs. So, he has to go on a diet. Now, he has been on weight control dog food already, so this doesn't look good. The vet told me I was feeding him too much, giving him too many treats....all things I secretly knew in my heart but kept doing it....because he needs it. He likes it. He wants treats. Poor puppy. So the poor little guy gets a teeny tiny bowl of dog food (I still give him treats though...because he needs them...wants them....and loves them).

Dan....ah, Dan. This dog has literally eaten his weight in chocolate since we got him after Thanksgiving. He's an addict and can't stop himself. He has eaten solid chocolate nutcrackers, giant hersey bars, any kind of chocolate treat laying around with no supervision....it's his. So, Cassidy's class is doing a chocolate lovers basket for our spring fundraiser. A friend of mine dropped off 3 bags of chocolate for said basket. I put them on the dining room table when we came in, and went to dinner when Jon got home. Totally forgot to put them in the microwave, which is the only safe place from Dan. Came home, and Dan knew he was in trouble. Ears down, tail down, sad, sad eyes. The funniest thing I think he ate that night was an entire bag of Hershey's dark chocolate kisses....foils and all. He hid the milk choc kisses under my pillow for a treat later. I found them though. He did yak up the foils later that night. For all you hear about chocolate being deadly to dogs, not to this dog. He LOVES it. And is never the worse for it. So, I made delicious marble swirl brownies Thursday. Megan told me Friday morning as we were leaving that I should hide them...I figured no, they are far back on the counter and tightly sealed twice in foil. They'll be fine. Well, he just had to prove me wrong. He ate the entire pan. Sigh. And I was really mad, because the whole drive home from Walmart, all I could think about was how I was going to have 1, maybe 2 when I got home. Grrr.....

Today is the big spring fundraiser at the girls' school...Under the Sea. It's going to be a blast for the girls - they get to run wild with their tickets while I work the classroom baskets at the silent auction. Aunt Karen (Jason's girlfriend) is coming for the festivities....poor girl has NO idea what she's in for! haha. Hope I'll see you there. Maybe I'll actually have 2 seconds to take some pictures...keep your fingers crossed.

fun before Lauren left....

My mother-in-law requested some fun trampoline pics of Lauren and Cassidy, so here they are! Lauren LOVES to play with her nieces and nephews. And I threw in a crazy picture of Lauren with her 100 lb backpack on AND Josh on her back.

Lauren leaves for Africa

Okay, so...an emotional day. Lauren left for Africa tonight. Jon, Josh and Elaine left about 30 minutes ago to bring her to the airport. The girls and I opted not to go as I have been crying every time I think about her going or try to talk about it in any capacity (crying now....). She's working for Courage to be You (http://www.c2bu.org/) and is heading for Tanzania. I'm so proud of her - she is doing what God means for her to do - living her dream and following her heart. I was lucky enough to be able to share her with my friends today at lunch - she's the most amazing young woman and she inspires me so much, and I love that my friends got to meet her before she left. So many of my friends have been so supportive of her, and I am so thankful for them. I really do have the best group of friends here! Check out her blog when you can....the link is on the left side of my blog. And please remember her in your prayers. She's so brave, it's not always easy to do what God calls you to do. I can not wait to see what she does and gets to experience.

a decade goes by too fast for me!

My Megan is 10....10....can you believe? And she is all that, and a bag of chips. In case you didn't know. She had a very fun party - seven of her friends came over and we had a scavenger hunt at the mall (which was more fun than I thought it was going to be! We split them into 2 groups, Jon took one and I took the other.), and then came back to the house for a slumber party. All 8 girls slept like sardines in Megan's room. Jon and I were thankful that she has a really nice group of friends - they were all well behaved and well mannered. The drama level was surprisingly low, considering there were 8 10 year old girls together from 3 pm to 10 am. So, happy birthday Megan. Welcome to double digit birthdays!

KDAV

Megan and a few of her classmates got to do the news at school a few weeks ago. Megan was the weather girl and gave the "thought of the week". They all did a splendid job. Wonder if any have a future in broadcasting....