Cute dogs and stuff.

For some reason, there are a lot of dog pictures in this post.

I think we have cute dogs.

Really cute dogs.

The kids aren't too bad either.

Here is Googles and Jasper.  

Check out that tongue.

Here is Monkey C and her tennis partner winning a tournament.

Just a fun fact for ya...

her partner is my tennis partner's daughter.

Pretty cool, huh?

The girls and their pumpkins.

I kind of forgot to buy pumpkins for the whole fam this year...

great mom, huh?

As fate would have it, Monkey A had homework and couldn't carve anyway,

so Trev and I helped the girls.

My boy did his own.

At least we got 3 awesome jack-o-lanterns.

Costumes!

My mom hosted a party this year, so we still got to dress up

and have fun.

Did you know that Trev and I are secretly Trekker nerds?

Yup, it's true.

JoBug's friend Jeff joined us this year too.

(cowgirl, army guy, ninja, army guy, janitor, Star Trek)

More dog pictures.

I could eat them up.

Especially that Jasper boy.

Another fun fact for you...

we call our dogs Cottonball Jones and Jasper Jones.

I am  not sure why.

Our last name is not Jones.

This little guy loves sunny patches too.

Just like me!!

See?  He belongs.

I told you...lots of dog pictures.

This body pillow case was warm from the dryer.

They stuck him in there, and he didn't want to get out.

Daddy and daughter.

They borrowed the hats from my son and hung out together.

Too cute.

Holidays are coming!

Yay!

I'll end this post with the perfect quote I found.

Remember how I LOVE fall?

Well, I have enjoyed it immensely this year.

I know it is almost over but... 

"Delicious autumn!

My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird

I would fly about the earth 

seeking the successive autumns."

 - George Eliot

Last camp out.

I think you know we are an outdoorsy family.

We wanted one more camping getaway before it got too cold.

So we packed everybody up and went to Hepner, Oregon for the weekend.

Good campground, beautiful trails and trees, & not too far from home.

And of course we took our quads & bikes.

Good Morning me! 

And dogs!

Yes, my camper is wonderful.  LOVE it.

Started the day off with a good breakfast!

Oatmeal, raspberries & toast!

Say yummy!

We hit the trails.

Why do I love all the blond hair coming out from my daughters' helmets?

Because they are all cute tomboys?

Don't know why, but I do.

How many times have we posed on these rocks?

Pyramid Rocks.

We all still love to stop here on this trail and climb.

And pose.

And their true natures...

Our turn.  

Hee.

Is that a dirt biker totem pole?

Or my son?

The girls on our hike.

It was a beautiful day.

Not too cold, not too hot.

So fun to see the fall colors.

Collecting roasting sticks in the forest.

Had such a great time with Trev and the kids.

My favorite parts were just hanging out with the family,

the hike with the girls, roasting marshmallows with the sticks

the girls carved, and watching Raising Hope together before bed.

Have you seen Raising Hope?

Love it.  It's a laugh and a half.

Well, I think that's it for our camping this year.

Good bye lovely camper!

See you next year!

My Jasper.

Guess what?!!!

I got an early Christmas present.

It is EXACTLY what I wanted.

You must meet Jasper.

Oh, Jasper, you sweet sweet boy.

Just look at that little lovey face.

Now some of you are sighing and saying to yourselves,

"Oh Shelli.  Didn't you try this once before?

What happened to poor Pepper, she didn't last long. . . "

Well, I did love Pepper. 

But Pepper was given to us because nobody would buy her,

and though she was cute and fun, she was HYPER

and didn't train as well as I had hoped.  She also jumped all over

poor Cotton, and he wasn't too happy about it.

And she had a LOUD bark that none of us could control.

You will be happy (as I am) to know that she is in the loving household

of one of Trevor's patients, and they adore her.

Okay, onto JASPER.

I asked for Jasper.

Actually, this is what I said to my sweet darling husband.

"I know what I want for Christmas.  A sweet little Yorkie that will love ME

and will curl up right next to me when I am resting.  

Oh, but it would have to be house trained too."

And I said all this in a dreamy, wishful way, not even intending for him

to take me seriously.

I should have known better.

Trevor is a sucker for a sweet dog.

Or two.

You already know this guy.

Cotton is our wonder dog.

Everyone who knows him wants him, it is true.

The only problem I have with Cotton is this:

He plays favorites...and I am not one of them.

Trevor, yes.  Firstborn daughter, yes.

Everyone else?

Picture Cotton shrugging.

I don't know how Trev managed it, but Jasper is what I asked for.

He is sweet.  So sweet that I keep wondering

when he is going to do something mischievous.

He loves ME!  How did that happen?  I don't know!

He follows me everywhere, puts his paws up for me to hold him,

and when I walk in the room, he lifts his head and watches me!

Now I know how Trevor feels with Cotton.

It's kinda nice to be adored.  Smiley face.

He is also trained.

This is huge.

He is 5 years old actually, a year older than Cotton.

His previous owner used him for breeding, and they were done with him.

How they could not want him as a pet baffles me, but I guess that is the business of it.

We are the lucky ones now.

Love you Jasper!

April Days

Most delicious picture of the month.

Pepper & Trevor.
Who is cuter? Is it a toss up? Really, there is no contest.
The smiling eyes win HANDS DOWN.
Dang, he's cute.

Getting ready for a dress-up princess party.

If you dress like one, you ARE one, that is just the way it goes.
My little ones donned dresses and immediately took on a serious, regal aura.

You can't ask her to stop and smile, because she will cock her head to the side
and flash a goofy half grin.
I took this one as she was twirling,
and was lucky enough to get that candid beauty.

Maybe my favorite room.
RELAXING.
Lately...I hang here.
Gotta catch my breath once in a while.


Practice, practice practice.
April ends with USTA team tournament.
It's THIS weekend.
I'M READY!
I think...
Wish me luck?

Who knew?

My life is not busy enough.
I have so much time, I decided we needed to add another animal to the mix.
A puppy!
A puppy that needs attention, time and training.
So, here she is in all her curly cuteness.
Meet Pepper.
She is an adorable mini schnauzer. She was the runt of the litter in need of a loving home.
I guess that home would be ours!
And we welcome her with enthusiasm. We are all pretty smitten by her. I particularly am charmed by her willingness to house train so well so far.
Cotton seems taken as well. He has been found sleeping right next to her crate.
So welcome to the family Pepper! We look forward to many walks with you, lots of tug-of-wars, some sweet snuggles, and all the other things a puppy can bring to life.
So I'm a dog person! Who knew?

Fun with Cotton

It started with one of the kids...Monkey C I think. She got on the floor and Trev threw Cotton's toy over her. He ran, and jumped over her to get his toy. So Monkdy B joined her. Pretty soon all the kids were lined up on the floor, and we were laughing at our little Pom hurdling all 4 of them to get his toy on the other side. Not once did he land on them.

Cotton

Cotton is our puppy. He is a blonde Pomeranian, and we got him for Christmas. After 14 years of marriage, "some day" has finally come for us. I knew we would have a dog eventually because my husband is an animal magnet. He loves them, and they adore him. Don't get me wrong, I like animals. During my life I have had pet cats, rats, hamsters & fish. I love to visit the zoo! But I'm kind of like a cat. They are pretty independent and can take or leave you, and I'm the same with them.
Dogs are different though.
Here's what I have learned about dogs.
1. Puppies are the cutest things until you've had them for 2 weeks and they are still pooping and peeing in your house.
2. Getting a new puppy is like having a newborn baby. Except puppies don't wear diapers.
3. When you take the dog out to pee, and he is in a mischievous mood, you don't care that your neighbors hear you screaming "get back here you dumb dog!". Especially when you are barefoot, in your pajamas, and your 3 year old is running after you down the street crying her eyes out because YOU ran off.
4. Some puppies take longer to housetrain.
5. A dog is a member of your family.
6. A dog wants to please you and protect you and play with you and lick you.
7. A dog has facial expressions and knows how to use them.
8. A dog doesn't understand when you all leave the room and forget to bring him along.
9. Playing "fetch" is a lot of fun.
10. Petting soft fluffy fur is soothing.

We enjoy Cotton so much. I have surprised myself by the fact that I love this dog. I love watching the kids play with him and love him. They have no trouble bathing him, feeding him or even with "poo day" when they have to clean up the yard. He is an energetic, sweet little body of fluff, and I can honestly say I am glad to have him in our family.