So I guess you could say we are outnumbered...

Let me tell you a little story about a puppy.

His name is Berkley. He was tiny.

He was cute. He was well behaved (most of the time). He is loved. 

He didn't protest when we made him wear silly outfits or pose for silly photos. 

And he got big. Really big. He became a gentle giant. And we worried that he was lonesome. 

So, we decided that when his momma had another litter (her last), we'd see if we could find him a sister. We did. And we named her, Lani. 

Despite his very silly short haircut, he looked happy to have her. 

And he was happy. And patient. Very Patient. 

We all took to Lani when she first came home. So little. So cute. So new. 

She fit right in. And she is loved. 

Now like some other little sisters we know, she isn't quite so quiet. She isn't quite so mellow. She jumps up on laps and begs and chews up bedspreads...

And just like Berkley, she grew. And she grew and grew and grew. 

And now she is a big girl and over a year. 

And while these puppies were growing, so were their humans. 

So I guess I have to admit that the children, both human and fur covered, have finally outnumbered us. And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

End of an Era

This week, we had our final "little" play group before the siblings join us for the summer. I have been meeting every week with my friends from my new moms group since the summer of 2005. No joke. Every week. B was a newborn and I was lost. I found this amazing group of ladies who were smart, funny, patient and just as freaked out as I was about trying to be a good Mom, loving wife and generally fulfilled women. We started meeting weekly in our homes, then moved out into the world as the kids got older. The zoo. OMSI. Parks. Art studio. Bounce places. Indoor play parks. As the oldest kiddos in the group turned two, the siblings began arriving. Most of the 2nd siblings started Kindergarten this year (all those spring babies), except G and her friend A, who have fall birthdays. A few brave members of the group had 3rd babies, so we got to include Miss D, who is turning 4 soon. 

This year, our group has been small, but we have been pretty good about our weekly gatherings. 

As the weather warmed up, we have been playing at many local parks.

Now for the stroll down memory lane...

Here is the first photo I have of G & A together, taken June 2008 (both about 7 months old), while they watched the Junior Rose Festival Parade while their siblings ran around. They have been hanging out ever since!

Miss D (little lamb) came along in June of 2009, but didn't make the group shots until Halloween that year. The ever helpful big siblings are keeping G (Scottish Lass) & A (Mr. Chicken) in line for this group photo. 

The three littles always got along, but they didn't really bond until the big siblings all began school and the three could hang out on their own terms. They especially enjoyed lunch time, as they would sit together, giggle, scheme, plot and generally enjoyed each other's company.

I am sad to know that come fall, the kids will stop seeing one another on a weekly basis. The moms, however, are hoping to meet weekly (or so) for lunch!

FIVE

Five years home. 

Five years of forever.

Little Berkley Foo Foo

Seriously. He really is this cute. No photo shop. Just Berkley. With blue bunny ears. Hope everyone had a very happy Easter!

Puppy Love

We have been tossing around the idea of getting a puppy since before we were married. I hoped that one day we'd be ready to add this kind of little being to our brood. I wanted to wait until I was at home rather than working full time. Then we decided to have human babies before canine kids. Then I decided we needed potty-trained humans before adding a puppy. Well, we are finally there. 

Berkley was born on January 1, 2013. His mother is a Goldendoodle (English Golden Retriever bred with a Standard Poodle). His father is a Standard Poodle. They are both over 70 lbs, so he is likely to be that big or bigger. He is a pretty mellow guy. He loves new people and other dogs. He has cute white paws, very soft fur and looks like a stuffed animal. I wish he didn't want to wake every morning between 3-4 am, but is sleeping in his crate. We are working hard on potty training. 

The kids are somewhat helpful and are learning how to play and train, etc. We are all in love!

BERKLEY

It's love. He's 10 pounds. A love of a lifetime. Born 1/1/13. 

Island Dreams

I don't actually want to move to Maui...I just want to spend a month there after about 2-3 on the mainland, forever. But since someone else won the Powerball Jackpot this time, I guess that plan will have to wait.