Yipee!! A NEW Backyard!

We have the most wonderful backyard! Its nice to let the kids and dog out to play and be able to go inside to get a few things done. It was quite the chunk of money, but well worth it!

Oh, Ellie!

Our dog is now 6 months! It seems to have gone by really fast and the worst of it is over. Thank you, thank you, thank you Ellie for growing up and for going potty OUTSIDE (at least most of the time anyway)! Ellie is a lot of fun. She has given us something to look forward to when we wake up in the morning and when we come home from being out. Yes, it may feel like a burden at times, but she is worth it. She is part of the family now - no getting rid of her! Ellie will sit when told (if she isn't too distracted), stay at least a short while, shake, and "leave it". She isn't perfect at any one of these, but she (WE) are trying!

Ellie, letting me know she needs a drink of water.

It's pretty cute how Ellie will jump up on Porters back, until you realize what she is doing... What?! I thought only males did that! Alan told me she does it because she wants to dominate or be in charge of Porter. This makes it a bit difficult because Ellie has a hard time responding to the kids when they want to train her. To her they are other puppies and she just wants to bite and play.

And I thought my kids were messy! I don't think Ellies face ever leaves the ground! She loves to dig her face in the dirt, grass, mud, anything she can get her little nose into. What a JOY she is!!!

This is a clean Ellie! She gets so fluffy and soft, I almost want to give her a bath every day!

It all started with a picture of Alan and I....Next, the kids wanted to join and then Ellie...But being a part of the picture wasn't enough, Ellie just couldn't resist walking on top of everyone to give kisses, even in my mouth! Ellie and me posing for Kalin to take a picture.

Ellie

4 weeks ago we bought us a puppy. A Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Her official AKC registered name is Eleanore Golden Bell -- we call her Ellie. When we bought her she was just over 3 months. She got sick with a stomach bacteria as well as a sinus infection and it had us a little worried, but all is well and she is doing great. Potty training stinks and it really makes me question my decision to buy her. It was my decision and I only have myself to blame. Setting all that wonderful work and mess aside, Ellie is a fun and sweet dog. We do need to get going on her socialization and training. She is getting crazy!! We love her and she really feels like part of our family.
My sleepy girls during movie night. Yes, we let her on the couch! She was just too cute and cuddly! She doesn't shed, but she still smells like a dog (hard to get used to by-the-way) and so we are stopping that habit before she gets too comfortable with that idea. I thought it was real sweet how she was laying on Kalin like that!
Who's this, and what did you do with my dog? That was my initial thought when I first saw Ellie out the window after her grooming. It's different, but her hair is so soft I can't stop touching her!

It's a "REAL" spider

This morning while I was getting ready for church Kalin found a little plastic spider and thought it would be funny to trick dad. She set it just outside the bathroom door and then we continued to get ready. I didn't really think much of it until I heard Porter say "mom, what is that by the door?" Kalin said, "its a "real" spider Porter". Well, I guess he went and got his dad, because the next thing I hear is Alan on the phone and all of a sudden he tells Porter to stay back and then tells Kalin and I not to come out of the bathroom. (This all being very serious like). He finishes his phone conversation and then I hear this loud "whack, whack, whack". So, I didn't think it would ever go this far. Porter was real freaked! Obviously his dad was as well! He must of really hammered that poor plastic mold of a spider to break him like that! I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep the tears back! I opened the door just after he mutilated the innocent thing - nobody really quite knew what to say. I felt bad for a split second that Porter was frightened, but boy that was a fun morning!

SNOW DAY! I mean week!

Last Monday we woke up to about 4 or 5 inches of snow. That's a big deal for Georgia! With that snow came no work for Alan until Thursday and no school for Kalin until Thursday. What a life! The roads were really iced over because of freezing temps and unlike Utah, Georgia just doesn't have equipment or the manpower to clear the roads or make them safe. Public school and many businesses (like the doctors office) were closed all week!

Kalin, done with making a snow Angel! You had to pack the ice on top of the snow first or you couldn't move your arms or legs. Oh, and I'm a little embarrased about the taped gloves. I just knew their little cotton gloves would get soaked as soon as they touched the snow and this was the only thing I could think of to keep their hands from freezing! I guess we should go buy some real snow gloves so we're a little more prepared next time!

We sled down our driveway with the bottom of our baby saucer. People were using cardboard boxes, baskets, and I even heard of someone using a canoe! And downtown Atlanta there was someone skating on the road, doing spins and all. What a fun snow week!

There is no place like HOME

Especially when you are sick at Christmastime. Although we would have love to be with family this past Christmas, it was nice to be home. I had the flu and bad cold, Kalin had the cold, and Porter had a cold and strep throat. It was nice to be home and just rest! A little bit of a bummer, but at least we didn't have obligations. Here are some Christmas photos:

My First Christmas wreath! I made it too! It was fun to learn how, and I get to make another one next year.
It even snowed Christmas day! Can you see out the window?

A couple of the pictures Kalin drew for our neighbor, Cicely. Kalin is quite the artist!

Some of my Favorites from 2010

Can't help but love that Porter face! This was the circus at Cobb County Fairgrounds. The first time either of them had been on a carnival ride.

This is one of those bitter-sweet moments. So happy that she can write her own name, but really? Permanent marker on the bedroom door!?

I think Alan was feeling a little too hot! Maybe it was just that he didn't want his picture taken!

Am I a bad mother for posting this one? I promise she is not naked! Can you get a better facial expression than this?

All the cousins minus Logan on our October visit to Utah.

Porter riding his first pony!

Lucas, Eliza, Porter, Logan, Kalin and Braden. Halloween fun at Thanksgiving Point. It was fun to see them interact with each other.

Sweet Aunt Kari on a hay ride at Wheeler Farm.

These two really do love each other. It's fun they are so close in age. Even though they can really put up a good fight they are best friends!