SOMEBODY is using their outside voice...

So my 80 pound boxer bully dog who is supposed to protect me from stranger danger is a little afraid of a bright blue bucket.

Who's not afraid of a bucket or two?

In laws

I've got two pretty amazing parents. (I can say that because I'm so much like both of them!)

But I also married into an awfully good family, and Kory's parents are cherished and loved.

New Furniture....and a hungry dog

Spring is here

My deck from the dining room; nice view, huh?

I just love a good, plush fern.

Do you see how spoiled Charlie is? He has 3, count 'em THREE, soccer balls.

Guess how many he shares.

None.

What do I do with rosemary? I've got basil covered.


They're not Jersey tomatoes, but they'll do for now.

Not a huge fan of pink geraniums, but the red ones were all sold out, and I love geraniums too much to be prejudice.

Treats

I got a new camera!!!!!
YAY!
Can you tell I'm excited?
It's a Nikon D200, and it's definitely a step up in the photography world, which is awfully nice considering I have three weddings, a reception, a family reunion, and a few senior portraits coming up.
Plus, my poor other camera has seen enough of Charlie's drool to last a lifetime.
Can't wait to start shooting!

Who Has a Big Head?

Wyatt does!
Noggin and I have played that game since he was small enough in body

and large enough in the dome to look like a lollipop.
He's a stinkin' nut.
He loves to yell.
He loves his bike.
He loves his dog.
And that kid loves his mama.
He also likes to karate chop stuff, but that's beside the point.

I kinda want to bite his face off.
In the most loving way possible.

Don't let the vest deceive you.

Intelligently, I did not share the idea of doggie kisses with Wyatt as I did with Jamin.
I just don't think I could have handled it.
But he'll get a kiss, kiss, kiss, muah, muah, muah until he's 17 or 29 or 36 and doesn't care that Aunt Jenny is a lunatic.
I hope he knows how much I love him.

The Gloves, but if you have a weak stomach, DON'T scroll down...

A few months ago, I bought Kory a pair of leather gloves that he uses when he wrestles with logs for the fireplace. They are pretty heavy duty fireproof, splinter proof gloves that have been worth every penny of the $10 I paid for them.
Especially since Charlie thinks they are somehow his.
Sort of.
Every time Kory (not me, mind you, only Kory) puts on these gloves, Charlie goes nuts, as only Charlie can do. I can only liken them to falconer gloves when master calls beast and beast obeys.
Only Charlie doesn't obey. He attacks.
It's like Man vs. Beast in our living room. Or COPS, animal control.
It's bizarre.
I wish I got the shots of Charlie leaping off all four legs into the air and lunging at Kory who pushes him down only to have a leaky, frothing animal lunge at him again.
This is our nightly ritual. Right after House and American Idol and right before the news.
It's entertainment at it's best.

At first it starts out innocently...

A little roughousing, a little pushing...

Then comes the growling and the jumping...

Then invariably, the lunging leaves Kory on the ground...

Until the biting begins. Daddy hates biting. Can't you tell from the awful frown on his face?

But then Daddy has to show Charlie who's boss...(do NOT scroll down if you get queasy at the site of ugly...)

Because if Daddy doesn't show him who's boss, aliens from the Underworld invade the sanctity of our home and possess our puppy...

and this is who shows up...