My photogenic girl

Sometimes I ask for a picture and get this...

Meeting the kids

Pumpkin did not know what surprise awaited her.

Still not seeing him
Wait, what is that... She was so excited
Honey was so sweet with him. She kept trying to cover him with the blanket.
But he ended up just stealing it
Pumpkin ate her first dog treat. Thank goodness that's all it was. She didn't like it. But when I told her to give it to Albert she was very convincing saying, "Mmmm Alby, this gooood"

He's home

My MIL and I went to go pick up Alby. It was weird to be in amish country. (He was/is not from a puppy mill. He came from an excellent breeder. - I would NEVER buy a puppy from anyone who breeds more than two different breeds and is only in it for the money. - You really have to research your breeders. Of course, there is nothing wrong with adopting if you find the perfect addition for your family)

This is his mom's last litter, and it is a shame, because she was unbelievably sweet.

Isn't he such a stud! I thought I was going to be sad because I didn't get to see him in his puppy coat, but his haircut is adorable

Look at that face

He did so well on the way home. Everyone said the first year for a PWD is really hard, but he has been an amazing puppy so far (knock on wood)

So far his only enemy is Gladys. Hopefully they can work out their issues from one house pet to another.

Tomorrow the girls will get to meet him and I am so excited. We won't have much time since I will have to take Honey to school, but hopefully it will be long enough that I will get some great video and pictures. They have been asking for Alby every day.

He is currently snoring under my chair. He really is great, and has the best puppy breathe ever.

***Update, that wasn't Alby snoring under my chair. It was Nigel. Nigel always sleeps in Harold's nook. I am shocked that he is sleeping with Alby!

Getting ready for the new addition

We got Alby's cage up and the puppy divider installed.

All the girls got their chance to be the puppy.

She looks like a wild thing in this picture (This is my god-daughter, if you don't remember)

WOOF!

Our puppy is pretty cute, but I don't know if he is cuter than this.

Afterwards they wanted me to get in the cage (now remember the puppy divider is in). Needless to say, I got stuck. I told Bea and Honey to go get dad to help me get out. It looks like it wouldn't be a problem, but it was. He didn't believe them/ understand what they were saying so he didn't come to my rescue. Somehow, Pumpkin helped me get out. Obviously there were no pictures of that.

Missed my camera

Sweet Potato was on his visit with his new family and Honey was in school. Pumpkin and I met a new friend, a mom who's son is in class with Honey. We are going to start walking a few times a week. Well, I had the double stroller packed in the car and Pumpkin was in one seat and my purse was in the other. The umbrella was over Pumpkin and she pulls it back turns around (she wasn't buckled in), looks at me and says "PRETTY". She had my lipstick ALL over her face. I didn't have my camera and I am so bummed. I have been waiting for this moment. Seriously, I think every little kid does that at some point and I think it is so sweet and so funny.

Imagine her face just like this with purple lipstick all over it.

Go Honey (I am the worst with these titles)

Honey had her first modeling gig. I think she was pretty stellar. We practiced walking with our hands on our hips. And FINALLY got the fake smile down.

Isn't this the most adorable outfit!! Look at those pockets

Oh man, her eyes kill me.

She took over and started walking all over the stage with her hands on her hips. Preschool really has made a HUGE difference, even in the few days she has gone.

We got Indian food afterwards and the waiter snuck her some mango smoothie thing. I had no clue. I thought it was water. She's lucky it was a special day for her, otherwise I would have had to take it away (I am super evil no juice/ sugar mom)

Our Puppy

Well, I must have a good eye, because I wanted the pick of the litter, and I got him. We have agreed to not neuter him, since he will be a show dog. A Newfie / Portie breeder really wanted him. One of her Newfie's won Westminster.

So I have never had an intact male... this is going to be interesting. I really didn't want a show dog, but my MIL has shown and placed before, so the breeder really wanted us to have him instead of him going to a breeder/ kennel home.

Things that scare me #1 Albert will hike his leg

#2 He will run off and impregnate some dog down the street

#3 I won't be able to hike with him off leash

#4 He will run away period

#5 He will hump people.

I think all of those are pretty solid reasons. (And please no comments about the benefits of neutering. We picked this dog and we got him. This is what came along with the package)

Introducing... ALBY!

Always call

First let me start off by saying, we were called for another baby boy. We didn't get him.

I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this, and I don't want to go into much detail. But a few weeks back a little girl showed up on our doorstep without shoes and was filthy. I wasn't home and none of my neighbors knew who she belonged to. When I got home I gave all of my neighbors a good talkin' to. But anyway, she showed up again with a little girl from down the street. Again, she was filthy and had no shoes on. I thought she might be 2 or 3 years old. Anyway, I called the cops. I scared both little girls out of their mind. So I went down to apologize to my neighbor and let him know that the little girl (not his daughter) was at our house before and his daughter was always welcome at our house. He let me know that this other little girl is always wondering around. And she has done some things that show real signs of neglect. I begged him to please call to report it. I hope he does, but they won't take second hand remarks if I tried to call.

I am only sharing this with you, because if for whatever reason you suspect child abuse, please call your local agency. Even if it turns out to be nothing, there was no harm done.

Honey's first days of school

It's the beginning of a new life. A school life. This is Honey's first first day of school. She will be in school for the next 20 years of her life (hopefully). Gosh, that's weird to think about. She of course didn't know what she was getting herself into.

She got a special treat for her first day. Peanut butter in her oatmeal! Woop Woop

Honey wanted to "stand next to sisser". Try crush.
Smile :) Or, whatever that face is

My custom made backpacks were too small to fit a folder in. (I didn't realize this until a couple of days before school) So Gram got her this humongously cheap backpack until our new one is made.

I was really hoping to not put Pumpkin in 2 years of preschool. I have no clue what our family will look like next year. But in the off chance we didn't have any other kids, I am not ready to be home alone. But Pumpkin has other ideas. She is so jealous that her sister goes to school and she doesn't. Unless she calms down, I will have 2 preschoolers next year.

How sad is this picture! She was so overwhelmed. I was yelling her name and waving, but I got nothing out of her.
Seconds after she got in the car.
To say her first day was overwhelming is an understatement. She pretty much shut down. I know she couldn't comprehend what school was until she was actually in it, but it was really hard. The first day I walked all the kids in there to drop her off. I was only supposed to do the car turnabout pickup. But I knew it would be a lot for her to take in. When I dropped her off she looked at me with those big beautiful eyes and I could see a tear form. I have dropped her and her sister off in the church daycare, but she was always with her sister. So I think that brought a great deal of comfort. When we picked her up she was still emotionless. I know she was exhausted, but I wonder if she didn't think we were coming back for her. Which, I'm sure is a very real fear, given her past. She didn't talk until dinner time. It was really hard, but I knew it was definitely the right choice to have her in preK for two years.

The second day went a lot better. She was talking about school and her teacher. She told me what they did (jumped up and down. apparently that's it).
Don't you love this shirt! I bought one for next year too, that's how much I love it. haha

During school my MIL, Pumpkin, Sweet potato, and I went on an adventure to explore the area. We found two great parks. I LOVE my MIL and we love having her around. She helps me out more than she could ever realize. We are hoping she will retire soon and then we will always have her all to ourselves.

This park didn't have any other kids and Pumpkin was a little at a loss without her sister.

Sweet Potato enjoying his swing.
The next park had a bunch of kids and we had so much fun that no pictures were taken.

I made my first mom school friend. We camped out together, but after seeing her in the pick up turnabout we said we would write our phone numbers down for Monday (you are in a rush to get out of there) and we plan on walking while our kids are in school.