Fuzzy A.K.A. Rebel The Golden Retreiver Pup

 How can you not fall in love with this fur baby? It wasn't easy to talk Josh into this foster, it even took tears. I knew this guy needed to get out of the shelter and needed us! Fuzzy ended up being sick, if we could just get him well he had a family waiting for him.

 Side shot.

 Happy hanging with the kiddos.

There is nothing like a puppy!

 I will just rest here for a bit.

Not feeling so hot. :(

Poor little guy had Parvo, and was only with us a couple of days. Through prayers he made it through and is now in an amazing FUREVER home complete with 3 children just like here.His new name is Rebel.

Blue the Dobie

 I can fit in the kitty bed watch me.

Step 1

 Step 2

 Step 3

 Step 4

 Step 5, whoa what was that sound?

 And finally Completion!

 Blues Story...

I first saw Blues picture on a friends face book asking for someone to foster her. My heart went out to her immediately! Josh has always said he did not like Dobermans, Cocker Spaniels and German Shepards. We have already fostered 2 out of 3. ;) I am a firm believer that it is not the breed that deserves discrimination but the owners that raise them. She was basically hairless and extremely bony. I asked Josh if we could foster her and of course his response was no. If she did not find a foster by the next day at lunch she would be put to sleep. She had been spayed, and was current on shots. The shelter changed their mind about

rehabilitating her? Josh called me at 10:30 the next day asking if she had found a foster home and said if she had not we could foster her. I later asked him what changed his mind and he said who am I to say she does not deserve a chance at life? Bless him! She came to us later that night and fit in right away! Blue had wonderful manners sitting, shaking, and laying down. We were shocked at her being hairless, so skinny that you could see every bone in her tail, calluses where her bones had rubbed on concrete, no nails, and even open wounds. Even with all this Blue was happy, grateful and very loving! With regular meals each day and vitamins she went from 40 lbs(when first found) to 60 lbs in weeks! Her hair was coming in very well. I was amazed at her alertness and hearing  we would joke and say she could hear a leaf drop! She was the ultimate guard dog! Blue was such a beautiful girl! She melted our heart more than any so far! Josh still misses her!

 Love me Josh!

She was very demanding when she wanted attention!

 Towards the end she found a good warm place to sleep was Joshua's bed. He loved it and misses her!

All curled up she spent her time sleeping when she wasn't barking protecting the house.

Blue is now in her FUREVER home on a farm, with a boxer as a fur sibling. In our minds a farm is an ideal home for her! I plan to call to check on her soon!

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree...

I was totally uninspired this season that is until I had an idea... What if we made it simpler this year? To start off  hunting for a tree in "the wild outdoors" instead of buying one.

We hunted most of the afternoon spending quality time together as a family having a blast! And here it is! Yes it is a big one, but rest assured that none of it will be wasted. The top will become our indoor tree, and the extra branches from the bottom will be used for home made garland.

Daddy cutting it down.

Hauling it out.

A fun ride home.

Loaded on the porch now time for lunch at Shoneys!

Each year the kids and I have a tradition of buying new ornaments for our tree. Joshua chose an owl this year, it happens to be a favorite of mine as well!

Tayler Rayn chose this pink metallic bird with pink fathers.

Branden's was a lot like stained glass, so pretty!

I have really taken a liking to owls this year, here is one of my picks.

Up close of Tayler Rayn's bird on the tree.

Another of mine, it reminded me of an The Old Fashioned Christmas Theme I strived to create this year.

As another family tradition we make an new ornaments each year. I remember making these as a child with my mom, made from pipe cleaners and beads. It has taken me years of searching to find the tri pronged beads it takes to make these simple candy canes.

Christmas 2011

 This Christmas was different from any we have ever had. Let me explain... I had not been able to do the kids Christmas shopping with Josh traveling so much, and them being with me 24/7 there was no time. We were lucky enough to find a wonderful lady to keep our kids the day before Christmas Eve overnight while Josh and I went out of town(the good stores are a minimum of 1 1/2 away) to fill stockings and cover the tree skirt. I myself was excited Josh and I don't get much time to ourselves, this was going to be our Christmas present to each other. We reserved a room at the Holiday Inn and headed to Tupelo, MS in hopes that traffic and shops would not be to bad. Our luck was up traffic wasn't  bad, and the shops were not over crowded. Unfortunately things were not going as well at home. I received several phone calls from the kids about each others bad behavior. Thinking it was time for bed I spoke with the sitter around 9 pm, we both felt bedtime was in order and hoped things would be better the next day. Josh and I finally made it to the hotel and into our bed about 11. Tayler Rayn gave me a wake up call at 8 am :(, they were back to their bad behavior. Josh and I were beyond disappointed and shocked to say the last, that they would behave badly for a sitter(all 3 of them) and all while were doing their Christmas shopping! This practically ruined our much needed alone time. :( I myself was really hoping that things wouldn't have been as bad as portrayed. Not the case, the sitter that usually stays and talks barely gave me time to write her a check she got out the door so fast.

After much pondering Josh and I decided that the kids were not going to get presents Christmas morning. After all the reason for the season is Jesus Birthday! We do not feel it honors Jesus in buying each other presents and for many going into debt during the process. Let alone giving to badly behaved children, what would that teach them? Instead we hope they learned the true reason for CHRISTmas, that it would honor Jesus more to seek out others in need than giving and spending money on unneeded gifts for each other, and bad behavior and disrespectfullnes will not be tolerated. 

On a side note I think it was harder for me than for the kids! I love seeing their excitement and taking pictures it is my favorite part of the season with children. Their behavior is improving but still a work in progress. We have been giving them the gifts through out January and will continue in the upcoming months when we see exceptional behavior!

 Christmas Card Picture 2011

 The below pictures our of our furbabies with their Christmas presents.

 Shadowfox with kitty treats. Not to happy about pictures being taken.

 Isabelle(foster) and Andi with their toys.

 Andi sniffing a toy ball rolled in cat nip.

 Not a present Isabelle found a loose crayon to swat.

 Aroara with her bone.

 Big with his.

 Cynder licking his lips.

 Blue(foster) chowing down!

 I redid our front door wreath this year.

 Front door completed.

 I used spare limbs from the trees and homemade bows this year to decorate our windows.

And door ways.

Greta the baby Rotty :)

 I got word that the Shelter in Batesville, MS had a Rottweiler puppy. Their shelter entrance is on a major highway, some heartless person dumped this mama and her puppies out at the gate, by Gods grace they were not injured! Of course we went for a visit and could not resist bringing home the last sweet baby left! This is Greta's mother. She was taken home and fostered the same day we took Greta to foster.

This is when we first met Greta, in the parking lot of Tractor Supply one of our favorite stores!

We then drove to the shelter to meet Gretas' mom, and see their set up. Before we left she was asleep in Taylers arms :)

She meets the big guys.

She slept a lot at first days.

Growing Fast!

Aroara was in in heaven and a great baby sitter!

We came close to keeping her but in the end I decided that we were not ready for another permanent big dog quite yet. I am holding out in hopes of adopting a Greyhound! This is the last picture taken the night she went to her FUREVER home. We all pulled together and enjoyed taking care of her and loving her! Major kudos to Tayler as she was her primary caretaker! We remember her best as a hungry the Miss Piggy, boy could she eat, and even grunt while doing so!

Here she is with her new family! I was so happy and excited that she found a wonderful home! Tayler was even happier that had a little girl to love!