Thursday, February 13, 2014

We. Got. A. Dog.

     Meet Leonidas, or Leo, as we call him.  Over the summer Jon and I had occasionally broached the topic of: what if we got a dog?  Of course, it would have to be hypoallergenic because of Mychael's history of an allergy to dogs, but aside from that, what a crazy notion!  We were just used to low-maintenance cats, what would we do when we went to Florida?  Or anywhere?  Don't they cost a lot more to maintain than a cat?  Doesn't their poop make me gag?  Oh, but Mychael will be leaving in 3 more years, if we are going to get one it has to be now, so he can be a part of it.  Sob.  Sob.  Okay, we should just do it, take the plunge.  Should we?  No, friends would say, they'll destroy your new hardwood floors, it's at least a 13-year commitment.  Sheesh, I know, and I like to keep my house pretty clean.  Yes, friends would say, you should totally do it, I don't know what I ever did without my dog, they're wonderful!  But we need to be saving for college.  What?  Someone broke into the neighbor's and stole money and a GUN??  Holy crap!  A dog would be added security, especially a good guard dog.  Hmmm....What's this?  A childhood friend posted a picture of her dog, it's called what?  A Bouvier de Flandres?  Google...What?  Hypoallergenic, good guard dog, good with kids?  Eureka!  What?  They cost how much?!  But.  But.  Oh, look how cute they are!  What?  There's one in Asheville?  He's available now?  Let me see his picture, OH. MY. GOSH.  Kids, get something to do in the car, we're going to Asheville!!!  And that's pretty much how it went down...


 He started out as a little ball of fluff, somewhat resembling a bear cub.




 He was pretty much a momma's boy right off the bat.


His eyes are in there!


The kids were very enthusiastic to teach him tricks...



and he makes a good wrestling buddy!


Poor fella hates his bath...


and looks completely different when all wet!




He's pretty wonderful, flatulence and all (we read on the way to pick him up that they are a flatulent breed, does God have a sense of humor, or what?  He fits right in...).

good-bye, summer 2013

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Make a picture slideshow

End of Summer 2013 in Florida

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Make your own slideshow

Mid-summer 2013 slideshow

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
A photo slideshow by Smilebox

Early Summer 2013 slideshow

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Slideshow design customized with Smilebox

catching up...spring 2013 slideshow

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
This free digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Nathan's 13th birthday, April 2013

     Wow, I knew I was behind on my blog, I didn't realize almost an entire YEAR behind.  I blame Facebook, and my iPhone.  This was my first love, though, so I commit myself to keeping it up in 2014, but first I must bring it up to date, and I don't ever like to skip over important events, such as a birthday.

     Nathan's birthday was spent on our spring break trip to Florida, his actual birthday being when we were on the way home so we stopped at a steakhouse in Jacksonville and treated him to, well, steak.  And dessert in these cute little buckets.  Also, before we left my parents' house we had a party for both Nathan and my dad, his birthday's 2 days after Nathan's, and Nathan wanted an eclair instead of cake.  

     When people haven't seen Nathan in awhile, when they do see him they are AMAZED at how tall he's gotten, and he's all arms and legs, which adds to the effect.  He's still growing, and I do believe he will be taller than Mychael by the time he's finished.  Nathan is funny, creative (which has really come out in his creative writing class he's been taking), a good friend, and a hard worker.  He loves soccer, video games, chatting online with friends, anything related to zombies, and eating and sleeping.  Sounds like a teenager!