A different type of rain.

On Saturday morning, both my son and Tupelo woke up at the same time.

Me:  "Hurry and take Tupelo out to go potty."

Son:  "I have to go to the bathroom too."

Me:  "You can hold it.  You're potty trained and he isn't."

About five minutes pass and then my son and Tupelo walk through the door.

Me:  "Why is Tupelo all wet?  Is it raining?"

Son:  "Well, I really had to go to the bathroom so I started peeing in the woods.  Tupelo walked under my pee.  I couldn't stop.  It must have felt warm to him because he kept standing there."

WHAT??  Do boys not have Kegel muscles?  

Tupelo received a very intensive bath that morning.

Why oh why did you bring that home?

The cats are not happy.  They sneak downstairs while Tupelo is asleep.  This is the closest that Obi will get to him.  Lili hasn't said hello at all.  I must remember to speak to her about her manners.

Puppy Love

With two cats, one dog, two guinea pigs, one hamster and two newts, our family still didn't seem complete.  We adopted a puppy today.  He's nine weeks old and is a mutt.  His mom was a golden retriever and his dad was a chocolate lab/dalmatian.  Our little guy is almost all black, with a little white patch on his chest.  He is so sweet and is sleeping by my feet right now.  He is making funny snorting sounds.  Lucy (our first dog) has been wonderful with him.  The pup follows her around and gives her kisses.

We don't have a name yet.  I really want to name him Cash because he's dressed all in black and he was a Cash 'n Carry pup.

Here's to more sleepless nights.  I'm hoping he's a better puppy than Lucy.  With her, it was worse than having a new born.

Sweet thought.

Daughter:  "Mom, do you know what I was just thinking?"

Me:  "No, what?"

Daughter:  "I was thinking that you were the first person to ever touch me and you were the first person I ever touched."

Come on down!

My Grandma Ruth would be so proud of me.  I have turned my kids into "The Price is Right" junkies. 

Because the show is on during school hours, they hadn't seen it much.  It dawned on me that I could record the show on the dvr.  Now, instead of watching "Sponge Bob" or "Drake and Josh", the show of choice is "The Price is Right".  

One of my favorite childhood places was my Grandma Ruth's condo.  There was always a supply of oatmeal cookies stashed in the freezer.  An indoor pool.   Naked pens that my brothers and I would  search for in the pen pot.  Quarters for the soda machine (although in Omaha it's called "Pop Machine").  

On my visits she taught me how to play gin rummy.  She'd take me to Marshall's and let me pick something out.  We'd go to the Baker's Grocery Store's Restaurant where we'd place our order using table top phones.   She'd buy me Circus Peanuts and Burnt Peanuts (two candies that I still enjoy).  She'd let me stay up and watch "The Love Boat", followed by "Fantasy Island".  She'd feed me chocolate cake for breakfast because "It has milk and eggs in it!"  And every weekday morning, we'd watch "The Price is Right".  Now when I hear the opening of the show, I feel a touch of sadness and it makes me miss my Grandma.

Usually, I watch the show with my kids.  I've explained to them why often the last bid on contestant row is $1.  They know my favorite games are the Cliffhanger (yodeler) and Plink-o.  They have yet to see a Showcase Showdown when the winner wins both showcases. 

When I'm not able to watch it with them, they often call me in to see the car or the juke box or the jet ski someone won.  They love to guess how much products are.  They laugh when someone's spin doesn't go all the way around.

Oh how I wish had exposed them to this when Bob Barker still hosted.  And oh how I wish they could have watched it with Grandma Ruth.

Our Gus Tree

Our cat, Gus, disappeared almost four years ago, around Valentine's Day.  We never found out what happened...maybe a car or coyote.  We planted a Cherry Tree in his honor and it always brings back sweet memories of Gus because it blooms this time of year.  The tree is scrawny but produces some beautiful flowers.  I think if we ever move, we might have to dig it up the tree  and take it with us.

Here's a picture of Gus eating cereal with the kids.  He loved Froot-Loops, yogurt and bagels. Of course, that was back when I didn't know any better and allowed my kids to eat Froot-Loops.  Now, he would have to eat Puffins or Go-Lean.