Dog-gone It!

Once again, I've gone way too long between posts. We've been really boring lately!

Anyone who follows this blog knows how much Taylor loves dogs. We have an awesome 8 1/2-year-old yellow lab, Champ, but Taylor has been begging for a puppy to join our clan. I told her maybe for her 7th birthday, but I spotted a pooch on Petfinder that was being housed at our local humane society that looked perfect! She is a beagle mix (Taylor loves beagles) and the staff assured me that she was sweet and not aggressive at all with people or the other dogs. I let the kids meet her and we decided to bring her home.

This is how I survive being how alone with the kids almost every night during basketball season. ;) They loved trying out the pup's new cage!

The tables are turned! This was a funny idea until I tried to get out! 72" in a 36" long cage is just not good.

We love our Champy!

We picked up "Amber" the next morning and the kids and I were just so excited. We let her check out the house before introducing Champ and everything went great. Amber was as sweet as could be with us, but it was obvious as the day went on that she was not a fan of Champ. Our Champy is the sweetest, most docile dog you'd ever meet. He wouldn't hurt a fly and Amber just tore into him every time he came near me. We tried all kinds of different things, but Champ was absolutely miserable and heartbroken and we knew that Amber would have to go back to the shelter. It made me so sad and I cried as we left her there. :( It's a no-kill shelter and I hope she finds a great home!

Is she not adorable?

It's been over two weeks since we took her back and I think I was just too sad to blog about it until now. I couldn't upload the pictures until this weekend!

In other news, Taylor had strep throat that was misdiagnosed (not by our usual doctor) and drug on for an entire week. Luckily, the sickness coincided with a boatload of snow days so she only missed 1/2 day of school. She had her first basketball game yesterday and got the defense award. Daddy was way proud.

Michael is just hilarious. He limped into the kitchen today holding his leg. "I getting old," he said sadly. The kid is full of personality!

One of a kind.

This winter has been brutal, but it finally got above 30 degrees today (and sunny!!) so we ventured outside. Champy got a walk, we made a snow polar bear and Taylor got to play with her buddy down the street. Good times!



Working together. The top layer of the snow was so icy that we had to pack the snow on instead of rolling it.


The Worm and the bear.


He had so much fun until his gloves got wet. Then, he was like, "Bag this."

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Things We Do To Avoid Going Insane During the Winter

I really don't enjoy winter much. I love to be outside and during the winter, that's almost impossible, especially with small children and a basketball coach husband that's never home November - March. We do our best to stay entertained by:

Going to the library:

Taylor loves to read and to be read to! She reads stories to Michael almost every day.

By going to Daddy's basketball games:


By going to our own basketball games/practices:

Taylor started Upward basketball this year. Only practices so far, but she likes it!

The gym is so dark. I'll never get a good picture this year!

By playing in the snow:

The kids went sledding for the first time (other than the teeny hill in our front yard) and we all had a blast! There's a big hill by our library. It was cold, but just what we needed to break up some grouchy cooped-up cabin fever moods (mine included).

They were so cute going down together.

View from the top...



...and the bottom. It's no sissy hill!

Our attempt at a group shot. It's so off center that it makes me laugh!

Kiddos

Weeeeeeee!


Michael took a break from our "slope" to hit the slides.


Winter cuties!

By getting warm and comfy:



And snuggling with friends in cuddly jammies:

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Christmas Day

Let's see - I left off after Santa presents. We quickly showered while the kids played, tried to clean up the house a little and hit the road for Pittsburgh.

Annual in-the-car-pictures:




We made our first stop at my mother-in-laws house. There we visited with Mike's three siblings, his niece, Kayla, and his mom and step dad. The kids opened some presents and we had a lovely dinner prepared by Marilyn.


Taylor and Aunt Katy.

Michael and Uncle Pat.

Taylor with her American Girl dog from Gma N.

Michael has had so much fun with this racetrack!

Next, we were off to Mike's Aunt's house for the annual Christmas gathering. Everyone gets together and it's always such a good time.

The kids with Aunt Ginny.

Cousins Emily and Brittany.


Mike and Benny.

Mike and a beer.

Big brother/little sister love. Amy and Danny hug it up after some White Elephant exchange teasing.

Michael won this purse in the exchange and loved it, haha. It was a short-lived love, though. Somebody stole it a few minutes later and he didn't care.

Aunt Linda and Aunt Katy.

Cutie.

Cousins Lauren, Cassidy and Matt. These kids were Taylor and Michael's ages when I met them!

Boys watching basketball.


Aunt Maureen, Gma and Taylor.

Pretty sisters!

Annual cousins picture in the foyer.

Siblings (minus Bryony), the kids and I.


My camera battery died, but we had some more fun adventures the next day. Swimming in the hotel pool, dinner at Gma's and a cold but super-fun trip up the Pittsburgh incline!

Once we got home, it was like Christmas morning all over again for the kids. Presents were assembled and the fun began. The kids were occupied enough for me to take down all decorations and tree and catch up on laundry (Mike was at bball practice).


How cool is this? I'm proud to say I assembled it by myself. :)

Michael showing off the boo boo he got the day after Christmas.

Taylor making her first masterpiece in the Easy Bake Oven.

Ahhhh, my clean, open living room, minus all Christmas decorations! I missed it!


This guy was happy to see us home, too!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel