Love Hurts

We had a parakeet for a while when we lived in Ohio. I found it one day beak down in its empty water dish. We have a few theories. Perry either died of dehydration, as evidence strongly suggests, or possibly hypothermia, as our 1940s house had no insulation and was a bit drafty. A third and probable theory is that Perry died from a lack of love.

Our dog, Chanel, on the other hand is sure to die from too much love. We are constantly amazed at the abuse she takes, just to return for more. Hadley and Chloe adore her and have a few nick names for her including Nell, Chin-chin, and baby. They tote her around as if she were their offspring, pushing her into car seats, beds, child-size chairs, strollers and closets. Amazingly, she shows no resistance when they come for her. With one arm under her belly and the other under her neck, they whisk her away. A few weeks back we were all gathered together, but Nellie was not there... quite unusual as she is usually underfoot. Our calls to her elicited no response. Not so much as even a bark. Finally we thought to ask the little girls... and no surprise, they knew just where she was. They had shut her in an empty box.

If any of this were not bad enough, their favorite act of torture is dancing with Nellie. By picking up her front paws they have found she will stagger back and forth at their whim. They also discovered that by picking up her back legs she will play wheel barrel. And yes, I have had to stop them from finding out what happens when you pick both up at the same time. You would think the poor dog would run when she sees the two of them coming, but she doesn't. She knows from whence the good food falls, and plants herself under highchair at meal time.

Though the little girls make Nellie endure a lot, they do show they love that poor dog. They snuggle up on the couch under blankets with her and build her forts out of the cushions. I've witnessed Chloe sharing a drink via a straw out of Nellie's water dish, and Hadley one of Nellie's favorite bathroom spots in the backyard. Everyone has grown very attached. Thankfully hypothermia will not be an issue in Arizona... I have come upon a very dry water bowl though.

Fourteen and Counting

Happy anniversary babe! It seems we've packed a lot into the past fourteen years and I've loved nearly every minute. Here are a few of my favorite:

$400 rent in 450 square feet (it was a simple life)
Reunions after two weeks at AIT training (lots of lovn')
Sharing a car at the U (love notes left and car gone missing)
Living in D.C. suburb (oh, the places we went!)
Golf date on my 33rd birthday (9 holes in your world)
Three ultrasounds, four babies (need I say more)
Med-school graduation on the White House lawn (surreal)
Our first house (a 1940s fixer-upper that underwent four years of fixin-up)
Two days, two nights interviewing in Twin Falls (the end of the tunnel's a'comin')

Too many prayers answered.

We've come a long way baby! I love you!

Staying True

Despite receiving pressure from family and friends at school to root for the hometown Cardinals, Braden stayed true to his loyalty to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mr. Smith, his third grade teacher in Ohio, would be proud!

Mr. Smith is from Pittsburgh and a devoted Steelers fan. His mission was to convert over as many Cleveland Browns fans as possible. It was all innocently done through homework assignments and extra credit points. Braden found himself finding the sum of the Steelers' running yards from the previous game or the number of touchdowns from a point total. Tuesday mornings we would be looking up the score of the Steelers game on the internet for a few bonus points.

I'm not sure how many impressionable minds Mr. Smith wins over each year, but he had a lasting impression on one. I have to admit, I was secretly hoping for the Steelers to pull out a victory as well. I didn't want Braden to have to return to school Monday morning and face his classmates defeated.

Way to go Steelers!