Meet Tiger Lily!

With regards to Meet the Parents movie, I'm all about Robert Dinero's discussion about the supremecy of cats over dogs.  I say a silent "AMEN" after he's finished grinding his future son-in-law about the fallacies of a tail wagging, easy pleasing canine.

We are now dog owners.  I am not a dog person. I haven't had a dog at my house in 30 years.  They smell.  They lick.  This one licks.  This one smells.  But, she is pretty cute.  It is a guilt dog.  My girls (and hubby) have been begging for a dog for years.  Literally.  It was always "after Kennedi is potty trained." Or "after we move." Or "after our adoption because I don't want to go to Russia and have a puppy left here to take care of." Or whatever excuse I could come up with.  Now, 1 1/2 years after Andrei is home, I relented out of guilt of denying my children the experience of dog ownership.

Annsley had been scanning the classifieds almost weekly since February looking for Boxer puppies.  I had been breathing a sigh of relief as there had been none for 4 months.  Then my husband, all by his little ole' self, posts a message on his Facebook page about wanting Boxer puppies.  And here they came.  From all over neighboring counties and states he was flooded with puppies available. 

I was doing quite well.  I just ignored him and all his little messages.  If I waited long enough, they'd all be gone.  And then one of the owners actually called him at work. And then she emailed pictures. 

I was toast. 

So, Sunday afternoon he and Annsley drive 45 miles to check them out.  Annsley only wanted a female because "we have enough boys around here."  The only females this owner had left were brindles, and Annsley only wanted a fawn.  But I knew she and Doug would leave with a dog--brindle or not.  And they did. 

Kennedi and I went shopping Sunday afternoon for dog bowls, food, bedding, and the all important chew toys.  Doug has been given his directive by our 7 year old to construct the dog house this weekend. 

She brings grief to Andrei though.  She loves his Tag blanket and constantly tries to carry it off. She also tries to pull down his shorts.  And any time he's bending over, she tries to climb on his back.  Andrei has a true love-hate relationship with Tiger Lily.

So now our days are spent house training, redirecting her couch gnawing to a chew toy, and waiting for her wake up from her puppy napping to play.  She has puppy breath. She smells like Dog. But I have a feeling she'll grow on me. 




Tiger Lily




Enjoying eating the stuffed rabbit someone left lying around.



A short lived smile as Tiger Lily grabs for Tag.

Stirring the stick!



Reading stories to her dog.



Mother's Day Surprise!

OK, so I'm an official blog neglector. I'll try to do better as I just know each and every one of you wait breathlessly every morning to see I've posted some more awesomeness! LOL

My girls celebrated Mother's Day with breakfast in bed for me.  From what I understand, Annsley started planning this a few weeks ago.  I knew something was going on, but no one would tell me anything except there was list of things that needed to be shopped for.  And then Wednesday night Kennedi could bear the secret no longer.

"Mom, we're cooking you breakfast for Mother's Day on Saturday.  Don't tell Annsley that I told you."

Doug has figured out that I now know their big secret and tells me that I'm going to have to stay in bed on Saturday morning.  He'll provide ear plugs.

Friday afternoon Annsley announces that she, Kennedi and Daddy are going shopping for my Mother Day surprise.  I will need to watch Andrei.

Yes, Dear.

The girls are in the car waiting for their Daddy to get in.  Doug has Annsley's handwritten list in his hand.  Without telling me what they are making, I'm trying to help him figure out what they really need to purchase.  It goes something like this.

Doug, "We need Bisquick."
Me, "We have some."  I take it out of the pantry.  It is half full.
Doug, as he looks all over the box for a recipe. "I'll get some more."
Me, "What are you making?"
Doug, "Uhm.. "
Me, "Pancakes?  Unless you're making 55 pancakes, I promise you that there is enough Bisquick."
Doug, "She's got frozen blueberries on the list."
Me, "The fresh ones are on sale. I'd go that route."
Doug, "She wants shortening.  What's that?"
Me, "Are you frying something?"
Doug, "Can we just use butter?"
Me, "What are you making?"
Doug, "It's a surprise."
Me, "Yea, so I've been told."
Doug, "I'm suppose to wake them up in the dark tomorrow.  Where did that come from?"

And the light has come on.  (Figuratively speaking.)  I tell Doug, "Oh man!  This has all come from the Berenstain Bear books.  The kids and Papa cooked Momma a Mother's Day breakfast.  Papa got the kids up while it was still dark to cook.  They made the grocery list.  Went shopping ,cooked--you know..just what you're doing." 

As promised, Doug provided me with ear plugs.  He got the girls up at 6:30, and I surprised myself by actually going back to sleep until 8:30! That in itself was a blessing!  I was served blueberry pancakes, fruit with extra creamy whipped cream on top, bacon, coffee, and Annsley's home made version of Reece's peanut butter cups. 

Later that day I was blindfolded, handed a bat, and told to start swinging.  They made me a homemade pinata.  I'm not sure what they made it out of, but I had blisters trying to break it.  It was a very resilient pinata.  15 minutes later the candy they had stuffed it fell out.  Unfortunately, Doug had let them paint the homemade ball of unwhackable paper mache with about 3 cans of spray paint. 

I ate two Reeces' Peanut Butter cups. (Can you tell it's my fav?)  They tasted like spray paint.  I burped spray paint until the next morning. 

But it's the thought that counts. 

I had an absolutely awesome Mother's Day.  My girls made my day so special, and kuddos to my hubby for helping them make it such a great day!