Intiating Patrick...

Meet Patrick

Patrick the poodle...the newest member of our family.  The girls named him.  Here is his adoption story:
We went to the local animal sheltar last Monday to donate a bag of old towels from the Lake Club and some dog and cat treats.  I asked the lady at the sheltar if we could just walk around and look at the dogs that were outside in the kennels by where we parked. The girls immediately fell for the scruffy little black puppy in the second kennel, and he for them.  He stayed right by the fence licking them and begging to come home.  I sent Daddy a picture of him and then we inquired about him, only to learn there were two other families interested and already approved to adopt him.  I left our number, piled the girls into the car with tears in their eyes, and explained the process, saying many times if it is meant to be, it will be.  That afternoon Patrick came home with Daddy and surprised them!
We totally lucked out!  He is so sweet and well behaved.  Patrick is the same age as Baby C, and is loving and patient with all three girls.  He loves to snuggle day and night and go on walks with everyone. He fits right into our family!

Slaps' Boo-Boo

"Slaps" is what The Barefoot Princess calls him, his real name is Flaps, and he is our 7 year old Basset Hound. He had surgery this week on his rear end. To discuss the surgery in any detail is far too disgusting, so we will just leave it at that. BP was very upset about leaving him at the vet's offfice and talked about "Slaps' boo-boo" the entire day that he was there. She even showed people just where his "boo-boo" would be. Our vet said he must wear this collar to prevent him from licking the area and Flaps thinks we are out of our mind! He thinks he is far too old for this torture. We all got a good laugh watching him bump into the walls and furniture. I caught him staring at himself in the stainless steel garbage can, as if saying "this is ridiculous!" Now BP is telling everyone "Slaps, boo-boo, hat." She thinks the collar is a hat!!

Hop on the Move

Here is The Barefoot Princess' new nightly ritual. Acutally anytime she goes outside she wants to put Hop in her John Deere and give him a ride. Recently she learned how to maneuver her tractor, so she is very independent now and very proud of herself. (She used to just push the gas and we would chase her around the yard to turn the wheel.) Flaps, or "Slaps" as she calls him, follows behind to make sure they are behaving. Hop is a very good sport about the whole adventure.

Our New Edition

The Barefoot Princess' Daddy thought it was time she had a little responsibility and learned to take care of an animal. One Saturday while BP was napping, he disappeared to our local agricultural store and returned with this adorable little bunny and all the accessories. BP just calls him "bunny" or makes the sign for bunny, so right now he doesn't officially have a name. However, he is the sweetest bunny I have ever known and is very nice to BP when she pets him and tries to pick him up. He even tolerates rides in the wagon of her John Deere tractor. And yes, The Barefoot Princess actually has been feeding him and helping her Daddy clean out his cage!!!