What's going on around here

This pretty much sums it up.

The first week

We are one week in with Duncan and it has been a challenge for sure. He is a barrel of energy and then falls out asleep. He is doing very well with the kennel now and sleeps almost all night. House training is going well also, as long as you do not take your eyes off of him. Which leads me to Emerson. She has decided that I love Duncan more than her. She had a complete meltdown a few days ago over this. Good thing she does not have a sibling! We clearly did not prepare her for what life would be like with a puppy until it is house and kennel trained. It also does not help that she wants to play with him so bad and all this teething monster wants to do is chew, nip and bite his way around the house and yard. There are no more flowers in any of the potted plants outside. He has torn them all of and they are scattered around the yard in various stages of dismemberment.

He took a trip to visit Aunt Mel at Hannan & Company last week before his vet appointment. He made himself right at home.

Here's to hoping the puppy stage goes by fast!

First day of Kindergarden

YIPPEE! School days are upon us and we could not be more thrilled to get back into the routine of things. I walked her into her classroom this morning and I was quickly asked to leave. She said, "Mom, what are you still doing here"? "Well Em, I am just hanging out waiting to see some of your friends." She says, " MOM, you see my friends all the time. I think you can go now". So, I left. Guess that's good that she was not clinched onto my leg, but goodness.

Duncan

Look at that face would you! This is Duncan, the newest member of our family. He is 6 1/2 weeks old and is all puppy. Denny traveled to Connelly Springs, N.C. Saturday to get him. All in one day I might add. After several hours of weather delays they finally made it home. He chews non-stop and is so darn cute we can't get enough of him. There is no taking your eyes off of him for sure at this point. Emerson is beside herself to have a puppy. Baker was no puppy by the time she came along, so she is getting to experience all the firsts with Duncan. The backyard and all the plants are big chew toys to him. Luckily he can only stay out in short spurts because it is just too hot.

Duncan has quickly taken over Emerson's chair in the living room. He took a good long nap in it this afternoon. All Emerson wants is for Duncan to be able to sleep with her and when he is older I am sure he will. This evening was a good start. He fell asleep next to her while we were reading bedtime stories and saying prayers.

Catch of the Day

We have never denied loving lizards at our house. Lizards, skinks and geckos are all welcome here. Emerson has been trying to catch a lizard all afternoon and she finally did. She was so excited. This pink princess can hang in the backyard with the boys any day.

2 posts in one week...don't get used to it.

Crazy days of summer

Emerson and her buddy Van spent some time at Blue Bayou last week. They had a good time and looking at these pictures these two could be related. Emerson was so tired after a long weekend and then several hours playing with Van, that she put herself to bed at 5:30pm on Sunday and slept until 6:45am the next morning. We have very little bedtime structure this summer...it's summer time after all! We stay outside until the mosquito's start to bite and take our time getting to bed. We are pretty busy this summer, but none of us or as busy as Emerson.

She has already taken and completed a week long Cheer and Tumble Camp at La Athletics, 2 weeks of Swim lessons, week long Art Camp at Dunham and Kindergarten Camp at Dunham. This week she is taking a Watercolor class. AND THEN, when she is not in camp she is either with me at work or at home with the sitter Mandi. Mandi is wonderful and Emerson adores her. They play lots of fun stuff and spend alot of time at the swimming pool. I have one of those green haired children this summer, but I take it as a sure sign of summer. It will either fade in time or we will cut it off before school starts.

Hope to post again soon...not making any promises!

5th Birthday

Well, this is what a 5 year old looks like. She is so excited to be 5. All day she kept saying, "Mom please just say it again, please just say Happy Birthday 5 year old". She gets to choose what she has for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She chose donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast (no big surprise there). She chose McDonald's for lunch (I tried every trick in the book to change her mind) and we had pizza and cookie cake at home.

This is Emerson's most priced possession right now. This is a LaLoopsie Doll. She has been talking about these for months. Supposedly they are the modern day rag doll. They have birth dates and personality profiles. She LOVES it and that is all that matters. Oh, and they each have a pet. Emerson's has a pet cow.

She wanted a cookie cake with pink ballet slippers. We learned a lesson for sure. The pink icing tasted like chemical. It was terrible! No more cookie cakes with colored icing.

We can't even believe Emerson is 5. She is so bright and tall. Today was her 5 year old check-up. She is 46 inches tall and weighs 47 pounds. She is in the 90 percentile for height and weight and is doing great. Her doctor said today that he has thought Emerson was wise beyond her age. He says he has thought it for awhile. I told him he could come over and help out with the wise young drama queen anytime.

5 years old and in Kindergarten. Denny and I have our seat belts on for sure!