Pitbull Bites Chihuahua

Two days ago, on Friday, I was walking my two chihuahuas around my new neighborhood with my son, Dylan. It's a nice neighborhood; better than our last one. We were finishing up our walk and were about 50 yards from home when a pitbull jumped out of a moving car, ran up to Eddy, and started to bite him vigorously. I wasn't sure if the pitbull was just trying to play, or if it meant to harm Eddy. Eddy did not yike, so I figured he was okay. The pitbull's owner quickly stopped his car, ran over to his dog, and pulled him away from Eddy. The owner apologized to me and said that his dog had never done that before. I told him that it was okay because Eddy looked like he didn't get hurt. We finished walking home. Eddy was acting normal and wasn't limping. When we got into the house I inspected Eddy's body. I discovered a large and very deep gash in his body near one of his back legs. I was amazed that Eddy didn't act injured at the time, but the next day he was very sore and had to lay around resting. He'll have a big scar, I'm sure. Eddy is a funny dog because he doesn't respond as expected to physical punishment. He always interprets it as playful. I've tried to punish him by smacking his rear in the past, but he always just looks at you like you're playing. He acts the same way when attacked by other dogs. Each time that a dog has bit him (it has happened a few times, but never this bad) he behaves as though the dog is playing nicely with him - even if it results in injury!

Tales from an Alternate Universe

Yesterday morning it became time for Dylan's swimming lesson. I could hear Dylan playing in his room so I called after him letting him know that it was time to get his swimming suit on. I heard a gasp, scuttle and then silence. Silence is a bad thing at our house, so I went to see what was going on.
I encountered this:

...and no Dylan in sight. Then I heard a little giggle from the recently emptied toy cupboard; which upon inspection revealed this:


When I asked him, Dylan explained that the hand prints (which he made super early in the morning without permission) were meant to scare me because it was a sort of indicator that he had been kidnapped to an alternate universe. Apparently the toy cupboard was the portal from which he returned.

Lately Dylan has developed quite a penchant for trying to get a dramatic reaction from his poor mama. This is only the latest in a string of pseudo disappearances or death scenes orchestrated for my benefit alone. I must say that it's been a good practice for me because I no longer experience chilling panic when I see Dylan prostrated out on the floor; I just assume he's going for the "reaction thrill" once again.

I really must give him some serious props for his creativity with this particular scenario however; what a genius wee rascal my son is!

Shocking Parenting Moment

Here is a transcript of a conversation that occurred in our home the other night (warning it has a cuss word):

Setup: Owen and I were moving things around in the kitchen when Dylan walked in...

Dylan: "What in the hell is going on here?!"

Owen and Me: Shocked gasp followed by flabbergasted silence.

Owen (sputtering): Dylan, you just used a bad word that we don't use in our home."
Dylan: "Which one?"
Me: "You know... the h-e double toothpick one...." (feeling like an idiot as soon as it crosses my lips.)
Dylan "What?"
Owen: Um... you know... The word that is the name of place that the Devil lives."
Dylan: "Wait a minute! I never said ARI-ZOnn-NA!!!"
Me and Owen: "BWA HA HA HA HA* GASP* HA HA HA HA ha ha ha ha ha ha " (falling to the floor gasping for air.)
Dylan: "What did I say?"

Whoa! Did Mother's Day Pass Without Me Mentioning It?

So Mother's Day isn't my most favorite day. It's not that I have anything against being a mother or celebrating the institution of motherhood; it's just that I always feel all oggie and creepy about my own performance as a mother. Thankfully, I LOVE being a mother and I can't wait to be a mother to even a few more kids, but dang if I don't feel every misstep on this "wonderful" day. Okay, enough of the masochistic guilt trip.

Dylan provided me with some very amusing mother's day gifts. One was a "Mommy Grass Head" (you can take that however you want) and the other was a Cookbook. I loved the cookbook because Dylan described how I made his most favorite dish.

Here it is:
"My favorite dish is Hamburgers. Mom flats the hamburger with her hands. She has blood on her hands so she has to wash them. She puts hamburgers on the grill. She heats the grill to 40 degrees. She flips them. They are ready when they are brown. I like cheese on my burger. I am like a mouse."

One point for my hand washing, one point penalty for my lack of proper cooking practices, triple point bonus for son's use of an analogy! Pretty sweet mothers day overall.

Here's some pictures...

Super excited to give me his gift.


Me in Grass Head form.


The Cookbook.

Merry Month of May

May is an important month for us. Owen and I were married in May and Dylan was sealed to us in May. Here's a pictorial trip down memory lane:



Our Wedding Day


Sealing Day





Cutie Patutie

Update...

For those of you who care, I'm pleased to announce that we found a place to rent! It really was an opening of the windows of heaven situation because of the multiple circumstances surrounding the whole process. I guess our new landlord literally just put the rental sign up minutes before we called. She likes dogs, doesn't even charge a pet deposit; is excited about and encouraged my gardening desires; will be giving us a washer and dryer (not usually something she does, she just "felt" that we might need them and is paying to get the washer repaired for us before we move in) and was looking precisely for people like us to rent the place. What's more, it is located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Lubbock quite close to Tech campus. The highest rated elementary school in our school district is literally two houses down from our house as well as the second best park in Lubbock; the one that we frequent for it's cool playground and tennis courts. Seriously, we were surprised to find a rental in such a neighborhood. It's that nice. I'm sorry if it sounds a little braggy but it's a complete miracle for us! Thank you to those who prayed for us. I have no doubt that the Divine arm of mercy was extended towards us in this experience.

And so it goes...

First off, this is not a mothers day post. It's just an updat on the housing situation. Yesterday, we were