Siblings Extraordinaire

In case you don't read Kristin's other blog, things have really been changing around our house!   Pippin and Steve are now the unsure jealous irritated depressed proud sister and brother to Baby Kate.  Well, no matter what our precious pups are thinking and/or feeling, they sure are cute!

Oops, Steve Did It Again!

Last week, we visited our cousins for the day.  They are moving out-of-state, and we sure will miss them only being 1 1/2 hours away!  In order to spend some time with them before their move, Todd and I left around 11ish that morning and got home around 11ish that night.

Todd went in the house first while I drug some things out of my car.  When I came in, Todd was rushing around the house and with a panicked look on his face said, "Steve is gone!"  Not even a rattle of the cookie jar surfaced our tiny little man.  I immediately headed to the other side of the house while trying not to panic.  Calling his name like crazy, I guess I hoped to hear him call out, "Hey Mom!  I'm here!"  :)

Heading in to our bedroom, there was no sign of "white boy" as we sometimes call him.  (Yes, Pippin is "brown girl.")  Remember another of the many times he'd been "lost", I looked into our master bath and noticed the door to the wet area was closed.  Inside was a tired, overworked, slightly stressed horse named Steve.  Somehow his crazy ass got himself stuff in there.  Mind you, this wet area holds a toilet, door, and tub.  That's it.  It's not a large area!

Knowing he could've spent as many as 12 hours in there, I yelled that Steve was safe and had Todd usher him outside to potty while I inspected the damage.  It's Steve . . . you know there has to be damage!  In however long he spent in there, Steve-O went through a roll of toilet paper (some for play, some to add fiber to his diet), pulled a few robes off the door hook, and used all of that plus the bath mat to build himself a dog nest.  (Wish I snapped a pic before cleaning up!)  Big Boy must have gotten himself a nice nap while we were away.  Todd said he peed for almost a full minute, so he was definitely glad to be out of the confines he created.

No harm, no foul.  I have my tennis ball to play with now!

One would like to think he'd learned his lesson, but I'll bet he does it again someday!

Summertime!

After a reallllly long, realllllllllly difficult year at school for both of us -- it is officially SUMMER!  We plan on relaxing, recuperating, and doing a few things around the house.  It won't be much, but it's what we need.  Todd and I will both be working with new people next year, so we need the downtime to prepare us for August.

For our official first day, I made the dogs "pops."  They LOVE their pops, and they are a healthy way to treat the dogs and cool them off during the hot Texas summers.

Pops are very easy to make.  Here's my so-called recipe:


DOG POPS

1 large tub of non-fat, plain yogurt
1/2 c. or so peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
leftover meats and veggies

Pull out the blender and add non-fat plain yogurt, some peanut butter, and whatever leftovers you have in the fridge.  (This time it was chicken, some corn, and a piece of zucchini.  Literally any meat and/or veggie we have goes into the blender.)  Puree and pour into ice trays to freeze.

Remove pops from ice trays after frozen and place in a sealable baggie.  Label as "DOG POPS" unless your dogs don't mind sharing.  :)  Enjoy!

Pippin and Steve waited for me to hand out seconds, then got embarrassed after I tried to take pictures of them begging!

Did you say KLAW???

Can you spell backwards?  I hope so!  Let's just say that the dogs like to go on a KLAW.  Step 1 should be 'Get on your leash.'  Instead, it's this:

Every time Steve barks, Pippin's citronella collar sprays . . . leaving the entry a fresh scent for our departure.  Geez.  Our dogs are nuts.  We are simply their humans.

Life with Steve

Dogs are bigger and heavier than they may appear on your monitor.  The video speaks for itself.  :)

Deception

Look at this sweet, innocent, lil' face!  Don't let it fool you.

Pippin has developed a new diet plan for our family.  You step away from your plate, she eats it for you.  Therefore, you don't overeat.  Isn't she sweet?  Sneaky girl . . .

Puppy Love

The weather here has been awesome lately!  We've enjoyed getting outside some to work in the yard and play with the dogs.  Here are a few recent pics of Steve & Pippin:

We are SO cute & move so fast that we are blurry. 

Pippin just hangs out being gorgeous.

Steve - Always at play!  He LOVES to play rope.

I got this sweet smile after waking up Pippin to take photos.

Sweet baby boy fell asleep with his rope one night.  He's such a lover.

Trash Truck Killing Machine

He might be big, but he is sensitive.  Steve LOVES Tuesday mornings because it's trash day in our neighborhood.  He waits and waits until he hears the big trash truck nearby.  Then, like a flash, he flies through the dog door ready to kill.  Out into the yard, barking and having a fit, Steve jumps upon the fence (scratching the crap out of it) over and over again..  He's almost able to reach the top of the fence, his tiny, svelte 125-pound body flying against the wood slats.  He has broken a wooden post in the past which has been replaced with steel posts.

Well, yesterday was different.  I woke up ready to get the amazing sight of trash truck day on film.  However, we waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . and Steve was sad.  Here is your proof:

Heartbreaking, huh?  Don't worry, though.  The trash truck showed up many hours late yesterday and Steve's faith in killing from afar was restored.

Still Here

Long time, no blog.  Todd and I have been so busy since the holiday season began.  We hosted Thanksgiving at our house - a sort of an open house style Thanksgiving - and had about twenty (20) people in and out through the day.  Then my great Aunt Rita passed away.  Then it was time for Christmas.  Between Christmas at my Dad's, starting our own, new Christmas Eve tradition, Christmas at my Mom's and trying to relax before New Year's Eve . . . it was 2012!

Starting January 2, we went back to school for what is always a crazy, stressful second semester.  Todd started his last semester of graduate school, I had a hysterectomy, the dogs destroyed all but one of our last living throw pillows, I hosted a gold & silver party (friends & I made great $$$), we saw my Dad & Marilynn perform in a local play, and best of all . . . my brother was FINALLY discharged from the hospital just three (3) days shy of six months there.

And WOW ---- it's February.  Todd is already in the throes of grad school, I'm taking a long time healing, the dogs are awesome as always, and we are patiently waiting to hear from our agency that a birthmother would like to meet us and allow us to adopt  her baby.

Nope . . . . . . not much going on around here!  Let us know how you all are doing (if you're still here!).  I'll try to get some pics uploaded of our latest life happenings.

Last Minute Christmas Plea

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

That ear!

Guest Room - New Pic

Damn dogs.  They are all that plus a bag of chips.  Guest room door is now closed.

Halloween

I know . . . I'm going to be murdered in my sleep by Pippin and Steve.  Todd just rolled his eyes and looked at me as if I was a crazy woman with my hair on fire.

Pipp was happy being a sweet banana split - and SO CUTE!!!  She ran around with a big smile on her face and even posed for a few shots.

Then she tried on Steve's submarine costume (after he ripped it off & ran around with it in his mouth).  She kept posing and smiling, posing and smiling.

After Pippin tried on both costumes, Steve became jealous and succumbed to the fun.  This is the only photo he let me shoot while facing the camera.

Every pic after was only of his banana head, ice cream scoops, back and butt.  Wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that he ran to Dad and Todd said, "I know, buddy.  It's like you've had your balls cut off again.  I'm sorry."

For the record, *I* did not take him to have his balls cut off.  I stayed home and cried like a baby.

Up next: I'm dressing Todd up for Halloween.  Pics to follow, but he may pull a Steve on me.

Doggie Dreams

Experiencing yet another moment of his rough life, Steve (sleeping on his back upon the leather couch), has a doggie dream.  It's a tough life, but somebody's gotta live it!



Wonder if it was the trash truck?  A knock at the door?  Another dog?  The kids on a scooter in the alley?

One Year

A year ago today, Todd left to take Mackey to the vet and came home with an empty leash.  It seems like forever since our buddy crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Our family changed in an instant.

Our hearts are heavy as we miss our silly, sweet, goofy, weird, funny man more today than usual.  We miss you, Mack Daddy.

Brushing Teeth - Round One

Please join me in my first attempt at brushing Stevie's teeth.  There wasn't a fight over it (surprisingly, since he won't let anyone trim his nails!), but I can't exactly call it a success.

As a viewer, I implore you not to look at the filthy flooring in the video.  And forgive the shakiness of the video since Pippin was trying to get involved even though she doesn't like the toothpaste.  And pay no attention to my pajama pants.  And don't worry about the beeping sound of the oven timer towards the end of the video.

Guess we'll have to keep trying - that would be to keep trying the tooth brushing, videoing, and domestic duties!

I Wish I Had a Camera in My Forehead

Seriously - if I could have a small camera implanted in my forehead, I might actually do it.  The reason?  My dog is so damn funny.  And you know I have to be talking about Steve.  Now, don't get me wrong, Pippin can be quite comical herself, but that Steve . . . he is a riot.

Last night, I went back to our bedroom to get ready for bed.  Steve was watching as I gave Todd a kiss and headed to the hall.  I motioned and said, "C'mon buddy.  Come with Mom."  He started my way, and I decided (for fun) to run.  He took off like a lightning bolt and almost knocked me over as we got into the bedroom.  Then comes the funny part.

Steve and I get into the bedroom and he immediately drops his front legs down, begins rubbing his face all over the rug, and has his butt up high in the air.  What this meant, I don't know.  I start scratching his hips and, while his ass is up, he turns his head and looks up at me.  If I just could've gotten a picture.  One teeny, tiny picture.

Believe me, the picture would've been worth more than my 1000 (or less) words.  Guess I'll call the plastic surgeon about getting that implant.

Seven Years

Our precious boy.

Seven years ago today, my (then) boyfriend, Todd, brought home a tote bag from work.  His dog, Mackey, was very interested in that bag and began to sniff it and check it out.  Soon after, a tiny white puppy peeked out his head to meet his new brother.

I received a call at my house from Todd (this was before we were living in sin) telling me he "had a surprise."  I instantly knew what that meant.  "You got that puppy, didn't you?" I asked, wondering why in God's green Earth someone would want TWO dogs.  :)

I went over to Todd's (now OUR) house to meet this teensy little fellow named Steve.  He was PRECIOUS.  My heart changed from that day on  A love for this sweet boy that I could not describe developed so quickly and intensely.  (For the record, I was falling in love with Todd too - ha!)  Steve and his mom had an instant bond that continues today.

My precious baby dog was a funny, silly, naughty, crazy, energetic, sweet boy then just as he is today.  Except now his 122 pound body is a little heavier at age 7 than it was as a handful of pounds at 4.5 weeks!

Happy "Gotcha" Day, Steve.  I love you, my "tiny little manz."

Steve at school with his new Dad, just before coming home for the first time.



Mom & Baby Stevie - LOVE at first sight!

"A bath?  I just got here!" (cue sad eyes)

I loved to climb my Mom and gnaw on her tasty hair.

I could finally reach the tall food bowl.  I was now a big boy!

Have You Ever?

Nope . . . I didn't think so.

My namez Steve.  Iz got it ruff.  I haz more than one earz too.

In the Midst of It All

About an hour after I left the vet's office without Mindy this past Tuesday, my awesome husband came home during a break he had at work.  I cried in his arms & told him about my time with Mindy and experience in her passing.  I cried some more and Todd joined me in shedding a few tears as well.

Todd and Mindy had a funny relationship.  You see, Mindy only liked ME.  She didn't really care too much for other people.  However, she finally began to trust Todd enough for him to pet her and she even laid in bed with him recently.  If you know anything about cats, you know how it is: They do whatever they want.  :)

Well, after crying my eyes almost swollen shut, I ventured out into the world with my loving husband to get some food.  (To those of you who know me: I went to the vet & lunch without ANY makeup.  That's devastation, folks.)  Todd and I had a good lunch and upon leaving I said, "She's only been gone two hours and it already seems like a lifetime."  Ugh.  More tears.

Todd dropped me off at home, and I ran in the house to get something for him (okay - it was cookies) so he could get back to work.  As always, I was greeted at the door.  It was only Pippin, though.

I called for Steve, thinking he might be asleep in the back of the house or outside.  No Steve. 

I got Todd's cookies & looked for Steve again.  No Steve.

I run out to the car, crying yet again, yelling, "Steve!  He's gone!  I can't find him!"  I hurry my bawling self back into the house while Todd follows.  No Steve.

Racing around, I run into our bedroom to see if he's under the bed sleeping (which he only does at night).  No Steve.

That's when I hear it.  A little scratching sound comes from the door to our bathroom.  Steve had gone in there to rustle through the trash & got himself locked in.  Idiot!

In the depths of my sadness after losing Mindy on Tuesday, I still have . . . Steve.  Crazy dog always makes me smile!

They didn't get too close without Mindy batting Steve in the face.  :)