I finally got to sleep in this morning. I woke up around 10am and rolled over to see Maxine begging eagerly at the side of my bed to be picked up and kissed. I hung my arm over the side of the bed and pet her as I woke up. Finally I swung my feet over the side of the bed to find she had also left me a little "surprise" on the floor. She missed the potty pad and all...that's what I get for sleeping in. I put on my robe and slippers,dealt with the morning "surprise" and headed out the back door with both dogs for our morning rituals. As I sat there on my bench and began to wake up I see that Maxine has something smeared ALL OVER her behind...what the?! Oh goodness...somehow most of that "surprise" had gotten smeared and matted into her fur! EW! It honestly took me a few minutes to wrap my head around the situation and make a plan.I began to panic..and gag a little. Once inside she begged to be held and loved and it broke my heart not to be able to. So I quickly ran for an espresso and returned to bathe my stinky little sweetheart. It is truly one of those life moments when you have to but on your big girl panties and deal with it. I shampooed out what I could but there became a point of no return...so I got out  the scissors. I cut out pieces here and there and hacked up a good portion of her $38 new hair cut.
2 hours later and some major bonding time with my daughter.... Maxine looked and smelled beautiful again.Shampooed,blown dry and brushed into a fluffy white cloud of cuteness. As for me,I was covered in dog hair and dog bath water,I hadn't showered and I still had a houseful of chores to start. I chugged down the rest of my espresso and an Aleve and got to work. 10 hours later,my house is clean and smells like bleach and 409. I finally got that shower around 4 pm only to change into clean pajamas.
No make up and no blow dryer for Mommy today.My freshly cleaned floors are quickly being covered in muddy paw prints. Poor Chipper still has to wear the "cone of shame" for a few more days. Maxine's rear looks like it got caught in the paper shredder BUT at the end of the day...it's all worth it. We are happy and healthy and able to resume snuggling both of our kids,itching Chipper's ear for him and reassuring Maxi how pretty she is.

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
-- Lin Yutang

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
Franklin P. Jones

How could something so small create so much of something so disgusting?
-Steve Guttenberg in Three Men and a Baby

---

ZZZzzzzzz

I'm tired.

I want my hour back.

One would think that by my 33rd time of changing clocks in the spring I'd be used to it.

I'm not.

Today I was a comedy of errors.

All my words came out scrambled and my hands fumbled along trying to keep up.

It wasn't necessarily a bad day but I am glad is it finally coming to an end.

I'm tired.

I want my hour back.



Tid Bits

The new fountain sits in the garage looking so happy in it's shiny cobalt blue glory.

It's a diamond in the rough of a gray cold garage,

anxiously awaiting to make it's grand appearance this summer.

After all this rain....

and perhaps a little more snow...

and then some more rain..

a new deck,

new patio furniture

and some landscaping materials (rocks)

the fountain will be unveiled!

Until then..

just pray it doesn't get broken!

:)

This weekend we ventured to Black Diamond for some dog food.On our way home we treated ourselves to CJ's Bakery. I love this small town bakery that engulfs you in the smell of heaven when you walk in the door! Doughnuts,bread,pastry,cakes and even a coffee shop yum! We got a bit of this and that..mini turtle  chocolate cake,coconut macaroons,creme filled doughnut with frosting and coconut topping,blueberry doughnut,fresh butter top bread..it was the perfect desserts later that evening and it was fun to indulge :)

I am happy to report that as of last Friday we won't have to go back to the Vet for at least 2 more months!

YAY!

Kids are expensive these days!

Maxine has survived all of her puppy shots and is now a whopping 4.9 pounds!

Chipper endured his yearly wellness exam and shots too. He also had blood work,fecal analysis,ear medication and a small surgical procedure.

 Other than him having to wear the "cone of shame" for a few more days,

I have been assured that they are both in tip top shape!

Next visit will be to have Maxine fixed in a few months and THEN

HOPEFULLY

we'll be done for a few months..maybe even a year?!

We also have them on a new food I am very excited about called Evo.

From what I have read it is the ONLY 100% grain free dog food on the market and according to the experts that is the "ideal" doggy diet.

All I know is I want healthy kids ;)

Listen to me...I read what I wrote and I doubt my sanity. I remind myself that being a Mother of dogs is still a Mother

Just like other Mom's I talk about my kid's poop, weight,food,accessories I couldn't live without,first hair cuts,attitudes,cuteness..

and the list goes on....

And soo..

I give myself a little slack.

:)

Maxine and her pig tails!

Goin With The Flow...

1 Gorgeous new ceramic fountain for the yard this summer= $99.99

1 Box of Feminine Products= $3.99

1 Bottle of Aspirin= $1.99

Waiting 15 minutes for the elderly man in front of me to argue and haggle his way through 10 simple items= Me still smiling on cloud nine at our new fountain steal but starting to get a lil impatient

FINALLY being called by a checker in an open lane and not being able to move because before mentioned elderly man is using my box of feminine products as a check writing platform= Priceless
;)

Another First For Maxine!

Today I made the appointment for Maxine's first haircut! I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I hope she does OK and I am able to communicate what I want to the groomer. I had planned doggie baths here tomorrow and I think I still will. I laugh at myself because I feel like the lady who cleans her house before the maid comes!ha ha Plus I figure if I have her hair clean and tangle free it'll be less torture for Maxi AND the groomer.
Here are some photos I found to give to the groomer. I want her body hair mid length and I have a very specific look I want for her face and top knot. Opinions appreciated :)

In the last photo I am referring to the white dog on the top right and the bottom right. Won't she be cute with this girly look?! I am excited for it to get long enough to do pony tails! Spoken like a true hairdresser...ha ha

Today was a good day because...

*It was the 2nd day in a row that I have felt better.

*I woke up to puppy kisses and I started my day with a hot chocolate.

*I realize I have grown as a Stepmother and I can honestly say with no hesitation that I love my Stepson.I am proud of the man he has become and I actually enjoy the time Vern and I spend with him :)

*I indulged in one of my favorite splurges today. Soap. Bar soap to be exact,African Black Soap (www.nubianheritage.com of all organic vegetable ingredients and essential oils. It's literally black and smells beautiful! Mm mm It has herbs and healing properties to help acne,detoxify and heal the skin. I usually use glycerin or Tea Tree soap but once in awhile I like to spoil my skin :)

*I finally found the supplies to make hair twisties for Maxi!! "Stretch Cord" that you can decorate with beads. The stretch cord is a LOT more gentle than the plastic type hair ties and it stays in better than barrettes or clips. PLUS,they cost next to nothing to make! I made a dozen tonight while we were watching TV.Also,I found the Paul Mitchell Oatmeal Dog Conditioner I had been looking for! I am beginning to feel prepared to deal with and a little less intimidated by my daughter's long hair now ha ha! What a funny thing for a hairdresser to say huh? lol :) Let me be the FIRST to admit and educate you all that dog hair is WAY different human hair. I'm learning...

* I talked to my parents for an hour and a half tonight. My father is slowly recovering from surgery for a detached retina but gaining his sight back more and more each day. Up there in North Idaho they have had an exceptionally long cold winter. The snow is 15" deep on their deck! I hope this snow goes away soon because I would love to see them,I am so grateful to have such amazing parents :)

" Honey!..Have you seen my Big Girl Panties?"

Just thought I would take a moment and check in!
I have been out of commission this week with the stomach flu. It was so horrible that I lost 10lbs in 4 days. I admit I like the weight loss but that was hardly worth it. The only other good thing was that I could snuggle with my kids all day and not worry about getting them sick too :) So I spent 2 days in bed while Vern took the best care of me.He is so awesome,I don't know what I would have done without him <3

Meanwhile..a snow storm happened outside while I was ill. It really was pretty.. but only because Vern didn't have to commute to work so we stayed inside where it was warm and watched it out the window. That's about all I like to do with snow,look at it/watch it fall ...from inside a warm house!

A blog from me would not be complete without a little bragging about my adorable kids!Maxine learned at the beach that she can jump over large objects and climb! So when we returned home we pulled out the doggy stairs we had purchased earlier. Lil Miss Independent Maxi is so proud of herself as she climbs on and off the couch using her stairs! Now she can bug her big brother while he is napping too! Sorry Chipper! ha ha Now his only "safe" spot is on the bed..until she figures that out too ;)
Maxine is a complete fur ball! The hair on her head is finally long enough for a pony tail and she is getting better about letting me do her hair and brush her...which is good because I have to brush her thoroughly every day to avoid knots and tangles and I have to put her hair in a pony tail to be able to see her beautiful face! ha ha I have to mention for Grandma Ellen (the lady we adopted Maxine from and a new dear friend of ours)that Maxine has her Mother's gorgeous eyes! They are round and black with a slight point on the outsides. When we first started looking at Maxine I saw a picture of her Mother and she is an exceptionally pretty Maltese. I knew Maxine was going to be pretty also but I am pleased to say that she looks a lot like her Mother :) One last thing...I ordered the kids some shampoo and conditioner on line and I am anxiously awaiting it in the mail this week. BUT THE SUPER COOL PART?! I not only ordered it online but I ordered it online,in bed,from my cell phone! How cool is that!?!? I will also confess that I spent almost $30 on hair products for my precious dogs! They will be the cleanest,whitest,silkiest,flea free,tangle free and best dressed kids in town! I warned you I was shameless ;) I love my beautiful little family!
No rest for the weary,9 1/2 hour day tomorrow to make up for sick time lost and appointments rescheduling...time to "put on my big girl panties" and "git er done" for the sake of my loyal clients. I am not yet 100% but I am honestly to the point where I am happy to just "feeling like puking" as opposed to "actually puking".
Pray for me :)