Blue Clear Sky

I've had this George Strait song in my head for the past few days and it seems pretty fitting...

I woke up late one morning in a rush for work. I grabbed the first items I could get my hands on (aka I looked frumpy) and I didn't do my hair. I didn't really care though, I was at a point in life where I was over dating and really just wanted to make it through my internship. I walked in to work only to be told that my desk was being moved...next to my crush! UGH and double ugh! Now I cared. I was thanking God that "he" took the day off when "he" walked in late to find the fiasco in his cubicle AND we were moving my stuff in.

It was the start of something wonderful, though. I was walking, talking true love - out of the Blue Clear Sky. Here are some pictures of our kids and the amazing family we have.

Champ clobbers us all, Butch mostly though

Aspen is such a daddy's girl
Champ waits everyday for Levi to take him to work, this was when Levi left without him :(

We are rocking the side of our house and the "kids" were helping

Aspen wanted so bad for me to cuddle her, she climbed on my back and wouldn't get off

Levi just home from work saying hi to the boys

Champ and Aspen hanging out officially after we first got Champ - November 18, 2006

Super Champ - this is from when we first had Champ, September 2006

Champ and Butch keeping me company one night

Present

While I was putting together my blog on my vanity I heard our pups. I got up to make sure they were doing OK...they've been inside because of the 92 degree weather today at our house, so I let them out to stretch their legs. Oh hey, I see I should go ahead and top off their water bowl while I'm up and it would be faster to fill it up from the hose out back than go back inside and fill it up.

IF YOU ARE THE FAINT OF HEART OR IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE ROOM NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TO STOP READING OR REMOVE SAID CHILDREN.

Aimee: "Wow what a nice day...isn't this a great day Champ and Butch?"

Champ and Butch do not reply, they just look at me with board expressions.

Aimee: "Let me just walk over here....hey, what is that?" I don't have my glasses on. I take a step closer. "Is that? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ASPEN!"



Aspen decided to leave, her most cherished mom, a little present this morning after she was out for the day...I didn't get it until now. :

Yes, it is a mouse.

Yes, he is dead.

Yes, it is not that big...BUT IT IS STILL A MOUSE! - I guess better that Aspen got to it before it got in the house. :/ (The joys of having a backyard the size of a field.)

So, here are the options:

Option A: Leave it there until Levi comes home from work - that won't be until much later tonight and the dogs need to be outside too....hmmm

Option B: Put on rubber glove, wrap rubber glove with paper towels, place multiple plastic bags over pre-wrapped hand - go outside to pick up carcase and dispose

Guess which option I went with?

Good Practice

Two out of the last three nights, our Champers has been sick. He is fine all day but then at night he starts getting dry heaves before he ultimately throws up. He is such a trooper, though. Both of the nights he has been sick, he comes to get me up and then rushes to our back door to be let out knowing what is about to happen. The first night I thought he was antsy or someone was lurking around the house. Levi was out of town and it made me nervous that Champ was nervous. Finally, I realized he was sick and just needed out. Then last night, the same thing happened; he woke me up and made a run for the door. (Thankfully, we know that it is his treats that is causing this reaction and a quick fix at that - he doesn't get his treats anymore.)

It's funny. My sister and friends tell me that I should enjoy sleeping now because when Levi and I have kids there is no sleeping from the moment you get pregnant until the kids turn roughly 3 -5 years old. I would say with our kiddos we are getting good practice. Butch wakes me early every morning because he wants to go outside. Champ sleeps in later and if I acknowledge him before he is ready to get up he pretends he is still sleeping. (Seriously, he closes his eyes and won't turn his head toward me.) When I finally fall back to sleep, Champ decides he is ready to get up and wakes me to go outside. Aspen wakes me up if she is too cold, if she doesn't like the water in her bowl, if she needs the food in her bowl stirred, if her food level is below the appropriate level, and if she is feisty, there is no hope for sleep. On top of all that, with Champ being sick, as when any of the three are under the weather, I have been sleeping lighter. I think it is my maternal instinct kicking in listening in case he starts getting sick again. With all this activity I would say we will be in good shape once we start a family...or we will be worn out from these three, so much so, that we will need sleep instead of kids. :) Just kidding Marilyn. For now, there is no rest for us...although Levi always seems to wake up very well rested and chipper???

Unexpected

Last night I was in bed thinking about the day when I heard some strange noises outside. I was scared someone was trying to break in or steal Levi's truck. So, I crept from my bed careful not to disturb my family (all four of them) sleeping in the same room. I tiptoed toward the door, the floor creaked, I winched looking back to Levi hoping I'm not waking him. He has to be up in five hours. Whew! He is dead to the world with his sleep apnea mask on, I breath a sigh of relief. I hear the pups move and I scurry without a backward glance out of the room. I made it! I'm in the front room and peek out the front window to see my neighbors moving cars, opening and shutting doors as if they are preparing to move in the middle of the night. Ah, it was nothing. OK, back to bed, I don't have to confront an intruder. I sneak back toward the room, round the corner and find this, my 120 pound pup squished up against the bed. There is another two feet to his left for him to sprawl out. I couldn't help but laugh, the picture doesn't do it justice! I cracked up and grabbed my phone to take this pic before he moved.

Earlier that night I was reading a book and I turned to make sure Champ hadn't wondered off into our room. If I am too quite in the house he thinks no one is home and takes a little nap on our bed. He is not allowed on the bed so it is funny that he decides he can sleep there when he thinks we aren't around. I turned and found him instead on watch with his sister. This was too cute for words and again the picture does not do them justice. Aspen never hangs out that close to the boys, not that they would mind, but it makes her nervous. Last night they were right there next to each other scooping out the neighborhood. I grabbed my phone before they moved and snapped this. Just love those kiddos! [I think Butch was taking the reprieve from these two not bothering him to hide and sleep. :) ]

Kitty Kompanion

Frequently, as I am sitting at my desk working during the day I get a visitor. Usually she wants me to shake her food bowl (she has food but needs someone to move it around). Occasionally she wants to go outside. Mostly she just wants to annoy me. However, there are those special days when all she really wants is to be a cuddle bug and sit with me while I work. If I don't make room for her between my forearms she either continues moving around my desk until I give in, or she stares at me until I make the room. (That is a little creepy. : ) Today is one of those days when all she wants is to cuddle and purr. I'll take it!