Trouble Flies a Kite

Spring seems to have finally come to our home. This is my first Spring, so I don't know exactly what that means, but it is warm outside, the grass is turning green and flowers are coming up. (No buds yet, whatever those are.)

Since it is March, the weather turned windy and Aidan got a kite. He also got a new shirt that says, "Hello. My name is Trouble." (Everybody thinks that describes him perfectly.)

Aidan took his new kite outside and flew it yesterday. All the kids in the neighborhood thought that was pretty cool.

Dad is back from Cape May. He said it was nice, but chilly by the sea. He's home today (Monday) because he had to see the doctor. He promised to take me and the kids to PetCo if they get their school work done. (Trouble [Aidan] is moving pretty slow, so we may not get to go. Mom is pretty upset because he just put his muddy shoes on in the house. I guess boys are all like that aren't they?)

Mom's Home, Pig Puppets, Stained Glass and Craft Shows

Mom got back on Friday night. Boy, I missed her. Dad's okay, but he doesn't hang out in the kitchen nearly enough. He did bring me up to his bed in the evening and let me curl up with him until bedtime. Sometimes the cat would come and sit with me. We're getting along okay. She likes to tease me because I'm stuck in the kitchen. She sits at the gate and meows at me. It makes me mad that she has the run of the house and I'm stuck in the kitchen. Dad says once I'm house-broken, I'll be allowed to roam free. Here I am scratching at the back door trying to get in. I also figured out how to get out of the backyard, so they are guarding me allot closer than they used to.

Aidan got this pig puppet and I like fighting him.

We gave Mom her present. It was a "Rocky" t-shirt. The original (Sylvester Stallone) Rocky, not me. She likes it allot.

Dad got an e-mail from his father (my grandpa) with a picture of a stained glass hanging that Mom's dad (Papa) made. I've put a picture at the bottom. Mom and Papa go to craft shows a couple of times a year. They've got one this Saturday (3/24) at BBCHS. Mom crochets. Feel free to drop by and look at their stuff. Rhiannon usually helps Mom, so it will just be us boys home on Saturday.

Cousin Lacy

I've got a new cousin, Lacy. Isn't she pretty? Aunt Linda and Uncle Jerry just adopted her.

She is 5 months, 12 pounds, and, according to Aunt Linda, very sweet. She is forcing everyone to pick up their belongings because everything is a toy. She especially likes to drag shoes out the dog door. Aunt Linda says it was pretty funny watching her try to get Uncle Jerry's shoes out the dog door. She has made friends with Tuffie (my other cousin, a border collie) but doesn't like that Tuffie keeps stealing her chew bones. Tuffie accepts her but does not respect her. Cousin David loves her. Cousin Andrew thinks "life was simpler with just the five in the family." He doesn't like picking things up all the time.

I can't wait to meet her.

The Big Dog is Gone

Mom left yesterday for a conference at Willow Creek Church. Mom is involved in the children's minstry at our church. She's called the Food Lady, because she does all the food for the children's ministry events.

(I call Mom "the Big Dog," bceasue that's what she tells me. She says, "Who's the big Dog?" and then she says, "I am!" I guess she's trying to tell me that I'd better do what she says. She certainly doesn't look like a dog! She's very pretty.)

Dad took the week off from work to watch me and the kids. We are doing okay so far. The house is still standing and everyone's alive. That's success according to Dad.

I really miss Mom. (We all do!) She's always in the kitchen (where I am) and she is always talking to me. Don't tell her, but we got her a surprise for her when she returns. I'll tell you about it later, just in case she reads this from the hotel.

Birthdays and Horses

On Saturday night they left me again. This time they left me again. They told me they had to go over to Aunt Amy's house to celebrate the February and March Birthdays. Dad and Aidan have March Birthdays. So do Papa (Mom's Dad, and a couple of cousins). Aunt Val's birthday is on Valentine's Day. Well this birthday thing must be pretty cool for you people. Dad and Aidan showed me the presents they got for just getting older. Aidan got this really cute Boston Terrier beanie that they're calling "Rocky 2." He's even got a little red cast with a heart on it, like I used to have.

Dad got a package of steaks from Nano and Papa (Mom's parents). How cool is that? He said I can't eat any though. That stinks! Mom says people food will make me sick. Dad heard froma friend that he isn't supposed to use people shampoo on me, so he bought some puppy shampoo. I guess its tricky taking care of a dog, but they'll learn.

Well, yesterday, Dad snuck out of the house for a few hours with Joey. Joey's the youngest and he is autistic. Mom and Dad have some great friends named Doug and Chris. They've got some horses and they invited Joey to go riding. Doug told Dad that horses are used in all kinds of therapy for special kids. Dad said he Joey was so happy when he was riding Buddy (that's the horse's name). Buddy is a real sweetheart of a horse. He is so gentle and he really seemed to enjoy having Joey ride him. I've got a picture of Doug, Buddy and Joey at the bottom. I like seeing Joey so happy. It was really nice of Doug and Chris to do that for him. Thanks Doug and Chris. You guys are special!

My First Bath

I didn't know what I was in for tonight. Mom left to go shopping, and Dad told the kids to take baths and then, "We'll all wash Rocky." I've never seen the kids so enthusiastic to take their baths. Usually its a fight that wears everybody out. But not tonight.

After the kids finished, Dad told Aidan to fill the tub again. Rhiannon grabbed the new camera that her cousin Katie gave her, and Dad grabbed me. He took off my collar and took me upstairs. Then he put me in this big yellow bowl and dumped water on top of me. He grabbed some baby shampoo and started rubbing it all over me. Then Aidan dumped more water on me. Finally Dad said we we're done and he wrpped me up in a towel and had Aidan hold me and dry me off.

So then they took me to Mom and Dad's bed and gave me a treat and told me I was a good by and how nice I smelled. It wasn't all that bad, but it was kind of a shock. Next time I'll know what they mean by "Bath," and now I know why the kids fight it so much.

I mentioned that Rhiannon got a new camera from Katie. It's not really new, but Katie's old camera, but it is new to Rhiannon. She took all of these pictures including the one down below. She is pretty good at it. She won't put the camera down and keeps taking everybody's picture. Aidan doesn't like having his picture taken, except when he's holding me.

I'm thinking about changing the photo in my profile. I like this one in my cage that Rhiannon took. Let me know what you think.