Doggy Days

Our kids are loving their new dog.  So much so that occasionally, Preston will pretend that he is a dog.  The other day, he made himself a kennel out of one of the laundry baskets by putting it over himself upside down, then he proceeded to whine, just like Cal does in the mornings when he's ready to get out of his kennel.  This reminded me of when Colson was Preston's age and pretended for about a year that he was a dog.

Trent's aunt and uncle, Sherril and Roger, had gotten a new dog that year.  A Beagle, who their granddaughter named Nemo.  Soon thereafter, Colson became Nemo as well.  He even started to introduce himself as Nemo.  In a high-pitched, funny voice, he would say, "Hi!  I'm Nemo!"  Then let off a few barks.  During that year it was not unusual to see Colson on all fours, (all the time) or to hear him barking, (all the time) and doing other things dogs do, including, (but not limited to) lapping up his food and water, and wanting to eat with his plate on the floor, just like a dog would.

Like I said, this went on for about a year.  At the time, Trenton was in a Pre-K class at Holy Love.  Towards the end of the year, Trenton had been chosen to be the "Apple of God's Eye" for a week.  This was his special week, and the one time that year he got to bring something (or someone) in for show-and-tell.  He chose to bring his brother Colson so he could show his classmates his "puppy".  So, on the appointed day, Trenton brought Colson to class with him, and proceeded to explain to his classmates about his "dog", and before we knew it, Colson was up at the front of the class doing tricks.  One of the kids yelled out, "Roll over!", and Colson would roll over.  Another kid said, "Sit!", so Colson sat.  Another called out "Shake!", and Colson lifted a paw and shook the kid's hand.  This went on for about 5 minutes.  I even remember hearing one of the kids say to Trenton, "That's so cool your brother's a dog!".  Colson was just beaming with all of the attention, and Trenton was pleased as punch with how well everyone liked his "puppy".  And there I was in the back, watching, with tears streaming down my face, I was laughing so hard.  I loved every minute of it.  :)

Dirty Schmirty

Preston recently got a new pair of shorts from his grandma Stock, and he LOVES them.

In fact, he loves them so much that he has worn them every day for the last 6 days.  (We did talk him out of wearing them for church on Sunday, but just barely.  He did put them on shortly after we got home though.)  The little sneak always managed to get them back on just before I could get them in the wash.  And some nights he wouldn't even let us get pajamas on him.  He HAD to wear his shorts to bed, or so he believed.  Every morning I would wake up and he would already have the shorts on that I had buried in the dirty laundry pile the night before, hoping that he wouldn't be able to find them before I could get them in the wash.  I would have never let this happen with my first child.  Trenton always had clean clothes on, even if it meant I had to change his clothes several times a day.  Well, I guess you could say I have learned to pick my battles at this point.  (And I already have enough laundry to do!)  I gave up the morning he screamed bloody murder for an hour after I tried to get his shorts off him and in the washer.

 

They're filthy!  The back is even worse.  He fell in the mud the other day, so we scraped off what we could and went along our way.  And yes he has worn them like that for almost a week.  I know I should care, but like I said, it hasn't been worth the battle.  If you had seen a Preston fit in action, you'd let him wear the shorts for almost a week too, filthy or not.

Well, today I finally talked him in to taking them off so I could wash them.

And this is the outfit he came up with instead.  Fabulous.  I know it has been warm here the last few days, but I don't think it's quite warm enough for this, as much as I wish it were so.

Disclaimer:  I did at least get him to change his underwear every day, so I'm not a completely horrible mother. ;)

What Next?

If you need a problem solved, Preston is your boy.

I have decided that there is nothing this kid can't tackle.  If he wants something, by dang, he's going to get it!  He has moved way beyond just the counters and cupboards though.

 

Today I finally figured out how he has been getting things off of the mantle.  Tricky little bugger!  Now if I could just catch him in the act of getting things off the top of the fridge.  That one is still a mystery, and to tell you the truth, I don't know if I really want to know.  My heart might stop dead in its tracks.

Something's Missing...

Vivi started the day yesterday looking like this.  (Boy, is she cute or what?)

 

Part way into the day she looked like this.

And after getting these two little beauties pulled...

She took on this appearance.  (She was a brave little soul through the whole thing.)

Which later led to her looking like this.  And I still can't get over how cute she looks!  (My favorite quote of the day:  "Mom!  I forgot to ask Colson how to eat without teeth!")

So Bummed

Well, I have no new pictures because... I can't find my camera anywhere!  It has been missing now for at least two weeks.  I don't know where it could possibly be.  The last time I saw it, I had left it on the counter after downloading some pics onto my laptop, and the next morning... Vanished!  Into thin air.  I have a sneaking suspicion that a little 3 year old I know has possibly put it somewhere.  (He was always trying to get his grubby little hands on that camera.)  Hopefully it will turn up soon.  The camera on my phone is just not even close to the same.  Where, oh, where are you camera?

Miss K

 

This fabulous lady here is Miss K.  She came to our house every Wednesday for almost a year as Preston's speech therapist.  She became so much more than that though.  We all fell in love with Miss K.  We miss our Wednesday visits and her sense of humor.  She has such a wonderful sense of humor!  

When she first started coming to see Preston, he only had about ten words in his vocabulary.  Now he says just about anything he darn well pleases.  I remember Miss K telling me several times, "We're going to get him to really start talking, then you're going to wish he never learned!"  I thought of her yesterday as I heard Preston screaming at his brother (at the top of his lungs I might add), "DON'T! YOU! EVER! DO! THAT! AGAIN!"  Fabulous.  We are still very grateful to Miss K though for all she did to help Preston expand his vocabulary. ;)

A Face That Only A Mother Could Love

 

Apparently face washing and nose wiping are highly overrated at this house.  This picture just doesn't do it justice.  Trust me.

Wahoooooo!!!!!

Trent has been at his national sales meeting all this last week.  He just texted me from the awards dinner to let me know he won the incentive trip this year, and we're going on a cruise! We'll be leaving port from San Juan, Puerto Rico, which is where Trent and I spent our honeymoon.  Can't wait!  Way to go babe!  Thanks for working so hard!

Picture found here.

Random

So we did the craziest thing a week and a half ago...  We got ourselves another pup (which I said would never happen again), but one look at this sweet pup's face, and I was more than willing to let him stay.  The best part is that he is a year old and is already trained.  He is such a good dog.  My kids are all in seventh heaven, but the best part is how happy Trent is with having a dog again.  

His name is Captain Caliber Stock (Cal for short).  He is a German Short Hair Pointer, and he is the most beautiful dog.  We have all fallen head over heals for him, including me.

 

Look at how happy this man is.  Cal just wants that dead Chucker.  He's going to be Trent's Pheasant hunting companion, so Cal started his bird training this last Saturday.  He loved it, and did very well!

I love Cal's polka dots.  In this picture, he's waiting for Trent to throw the Chucker again.  Like I said, we've all fallen in love with Cal.  He is my constant companion.  He literally follows me around all day.  I call him my "shadow".  I always know when he wants a pet because he'll lean his whole body against my legs and about knock me over.  Such a sweet pup.

On another note, I broke a glass jar with coins in it the other day.  Glass and coins were strewn all over my kitchen.  I thought I had gotten it all cleaned up, but later when I went to turn the disposal on, it locked up and was totally jammed.  Well, there was nothing to do but take it apart.  Trent was out of town, so I was on my own.  It took a little while, but I got it all cleaned out, and found the quarter that was jammed in it.  And my trusty companion, Cal, was by my side with his chin on my shoulder pretty much the whole time.  I think he was silently cheering me on.  ;)

And on yet another note, my little Viv is the sweetest girl.

I have had a load of clean towels sitting on the hall floor the last couple of days that I just haven't had time to get to.  My darling girl took it upon herself to fold them for me today.  The funny part is that she folded them just like I do.  I've never shown her how to fold the towels, but all this time she must have been paying attention.  It made me wonder what other things she has been logging away in her little brain.  Hopefully it is mostly the good stuff!

Some Laughs

I love three year olds.  They say and do the most random things, that generally could make you laugh until you pee your pants.  Last night, Preston had just gone to the bathroom, (#2) and shortly afterward, he was walking around the house saying, "Whew!  I wreak!"  Trent and I about busted a gut we were laughing so hard.  Not too long after that, Trent and I were in the office chatting about some things.  We were pretty absorbed in our conversation, and it took me a minute to realize that Preston was standing next to me screaming, "Mom! Mom! Mom! MOM!!!!"  I looked at him, and in exasperation said, "What?!"  To which he responded with this...

 

That's it.  Nothing he needed to tell me.  He just wanted to show me his new face.

Another gut busting laugh I tell you.  Love this kid.