Welcome Home Daisy

Along with just about everyone else in Tippecanoe County, we went to the fair. Fun was had by all. Dominic manhandled any animal he could get his grubby little hands on.



We went on Family Night, so everyone was able to go on rides. We all went on the giant slide a few times. Dominic loved it. Ashton went on the roller coaster a couple of times. We had to force him to walk away from it.


You can only see Paul, but Ashton was next to him screaming!

Then we did something that I am sure most people didn't do at the fair. We adopted a dog! I knew Paul was up to something. He was on the look out for the Humane Society. When we were walking to the fair, dogs went by with bandanas that said "Adopt Me." That was all it took. Now Daisy has joined our family.



She is a small dog. Quite a bit smaller than Monty. We couldn't bring her home until today because she wasn't scheduled to be spayed until yesterday. When I picked her up, the vet told me she needs to take it easy for a couple of days. Yeah right, a dog in a new home with 2 kiddos and another dog. I don't see any easy going any time soon. She and Monty are already best pals. Well at least in Daisy's eyes. Monty just wants to sleep under the table, but Daisy keeps joining him and wanting to play.

We went to see her twice over the weekend. It was so sad seeing the dogs who obviously had been mistreated. There was this huge dog in the kennel next to Daisy, and when it saw Paul, it ran to the back of the kennel and tried to hide from him. Other dogs were shaking and whining. Daisy had been abandoned in a house. So I am sure we are going to have issues to deal with. I had a feeling she wouldn't be house broken, and she's not. But she looks so happy now.

We were happy that the place we adopted her through works with Petfinder.com. They do a lot of good work. So if there are any animal lovers out there, who don't want to or aren't able to donate time, money, or a home to animals in need please click every day here. We have it saved to our favorites and at least once a day click on each tab across the top for hunger, breast cancer, rainforest, animal rescue (which also works with Petfinder.com), and a couple other things. It takes 10 seconds max to help even the tiniest of bits.

Saucy

Paul is soooooooo proud. I am proud of him. He doesn't think his mom actually believes it. Paul made the sauce! And it turned out great! Yep, that's right. Paul doesn't have to rely on his mom coming out and making the sauce and us freezing enough to last until she comes out again. We have a freezer full, all thanks to Paul.

Until recently, Paul's mom was the only one in the entire family who could make the sauce (at least where it turned out right). Paul decided to give it a go, it's been quite a few years since he has tried. He added all the right ingredients: pork ribs, italian sausage, and ONLY 52 meatballs. He sounded said when the count was 52. But I explained that we are only a family of 4, we don't need a million meatballs.

He called his mom to tell her to move outta the way, there is a new sauce maker in town. He is not so sure she believed him on how good it tasted.


It was excellent!

I have to admit I was leary myself, but he did a fabulous job.

Camping

Friday night Paul took BOTH the boys camping with Joe and Jase Holdaway. I told Paul he was a brave soul, what with taking Dominic and all. They had fun. At first. Here are some happy pictures.



The boys played at the playground, ate dinner, roasted marshmallows, and watched tv. Yep, they watched tv. Because how would camping be complete without getting to watch a movie too?
Then the fun started to end. The boys decided to check out the river.


Here is the river.


Here is Dominic when Paul dragged him away from the river. The water was soooooo calling his name!

Then things started to get worse. Bedtime came. And went. And at 3:30 a.m. Paul threw in the towel and brought Dominic home. The poor kiddo had been crying on and off all night! It scared me half to death waking up to someone in my bedroom with no lights on! Dominic grabbed on to me like he hadn't seen me in years and sobbed some more. After a few minutes of consoling him, to bed he went. Paul returned to the campsite.

Dom woke up cranky the next morning. Lucky me! At the campground, Jase woke up Paul and Ashton around 7 a.m. and the boys got back to having some fun. They cooked breakfast and went hiking in the woods.


I just love this picture of Jase and Ashton. Aren't they cuties!

All in all a good time was had by all. Just not all at the same time. They want to go again this year, just not with Dominic!

Blueberries

I fianally have a working computer! It had a miraculous full recovery. I am sitting here, crossing my fingers as I type hoping this is a permanent fix.

I know I haven't posted in a long time. It was the computer, I swear. And maybe a bit of my laziness. And we have been busy too.

I took Dominic blueberry picking while Paul took Ashton to his first dentist appointment. It was crazy busy when we got there. That's fine, I can deal with busy. I got out of the van and a gust of wind blew out a contact. That never happens. Ever. Okay, so I can deal with only seeing out of one eye on a sunny day.

Dom and I got to picking. He prefers the green blueberries. Only green. The bucket must be filled with green ones only. If mommy has the audacity to put blue ones in, then they must get thrown out. Fine, I can deal with an 18 mo. old who thinks green blueberries are the way to go.

We were going well for about a half hour. Then Dominic started to get needy. I had to pick a few berries, rub Dom's back, give him a hug, and then resume the cycle. That lasted about 15 minutes before I said I give up. I can handle busy, walking far with a 30 lb. kid, drinks and berries, squiting and seeing 8 blueberries where there was only one, a know it all kiddo - but a draw the line at a crying, needy little monster. We left with only six pounds picked. Yikes. But he was done for.

Paul went back that night with Ashton and they had a ball. They picked more and Paul insisted I make a blueberry pie. Now here's the thing. I don't bake. I can't. I have given up. If it doesn't come from a box, count me out.

But it actually came out well. And, it only took me two attempts to make pie crust! Something I have never been able to do before. Yeah, I know it is easy. At least that is what everyone tells me. But I have never had a successful crust. Yay, I am so proud.


I over cooked it a little, but I don't care. It was still good!


This is the face Dom made when he took a bite.

Dom was surprised to learn that blueberries are not bananas. You know, the only fruit or vegetable that he will eat. So he decided to eat the crust only. And if any blueberry accidently got in his mouth, he would spit it all over himself. Yep, that's my boy. Ashton, however, loved eating a pie from the blueberries he picked. He was so proud.


He is just way too happy here!