Halloween

 This year, the kids' Halloween costumes were Dorothy and The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.  Katie Anne chose these costumes this summer, and they looked so precious in them!  I made SJ's costume this year, and I had a lot of fun making the lion suit for him.  Of course, Ginger was a part of the costume trio as Toto!  We had the kids' pictures made before Halloween at Darrah Photography this year, and they looked just precious.

This afternoon, Gigi picked up SJ for me, and we met downtown so the kids could trick-or-treat the businesses there.  Here are some pictures of the trick-or-treating downtown.

 

 

 SJ didn't want to wear his mane, and he wasn't sure about accepting candy from strangers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, neither kid was fully able to participate in Halloween festivities this year.  SJ was exhausted from the excitement of his school party, and he wasn't too excited about the whole trick-or-treating idea.  Katie Anne had gotten a very bad report from PreK today about her behavior, and we'd really been working on that lately ... she knew that trick-or-treating was a privilege that she could lose if she wasn't on her best behavior today.  Sadly, since she had been out of control at school, she couldn't really participate.  I wanted SJ to have the experience of trick-or-treating, so she got to come along with us for a short ride and help with SJ.  Since he wasn't excited about it anyway, we didn't stay long - and we didn't trick-or-treat any more that evening, either.  Both kids had an early bedtime, and it was a disappointment for everyone - Katie Anne had been looking forward to Halloween for such a long time, Daddy and the other grandparents were disappointed that they didn't get to see the kids in costume this year, and I had worked very hard on the costumes and getting everything ready for Halloween.  I really hated to enforce the consequences for Katie Anne (and really the whole family), but it was something that Saunders, KA, and I had really talked about and that she knew going in.  I think she learned a tough, tough lesson today - one that will result in better behavior at school.  Hopefully, next year her behavior won't be an issue - and since SJ will be a year older - we'll make next Halloween a much better one!

Wow - Pet Care Superstar!

I can't believe it - Katie Anne just completed a chore

completely,

utterly,

100%

by herself!

She loves to help out and do chores, but usually it takes a little (or sometimes a lot) of parental help to get the chore done.  Her chores are more of a learning process for her than actual help for us, although she certainly does a really good job for a two-year-old.  Katie Anne has been helping feed the dogs for months now, but she usually just dumps one cup of dog food (that I scoop for her) in each dog's bowl, closes the lid on the dog food container, and helps me push the big container back into the pantry.  I still appreciate the help and love that she's trying, but it has definitely been a parent-and-child project.  I wouldn't describe it as Katie Anne having a chore she can complete on her own.

Well, when we walked in this afternoon, she was desperate for apple juice ... and the dogs were desperate to be fed.  So, I told her I'd get her a drink if she could feed the dogs for me.  I honestly expected her to start the process, but I was really just expecting it to keep her busy long enough for me to make the apple juice.  Well, turns out we're out of big bottles of apple juice, so I had to cut open a juice box, squeeze it into a cup, add water ... it took longer than I thought.  Suddenly, I heard Katie Anne yell towards the door (the dogs were outside, barking and scratching to get back in), "Hey, don't bark at me!  I'm hurrying to feed you!"

I turned to look, and she was about halfway through the job!  She'd opened the pantry, turned on the light, dragged out the container of dog food, opened it, and was scooping Ginger 1/2 a cup!  As I grabbed the camera, she dumped Ginger's food into her bowl and headed back for Abby's!  She even remembered on her own, "Abby gets one big scoop."

Then, it was time to close up the container...

Open the pantry...

Push in the very heavy container - and she knows exactly how it should go so the door will close...

And shut the door!

I was so totally impressed!  She did the entire job all alone.  I gave her lots of praise, but she didn't seem to think it was a big deal at all - she said, "Mommy, I feed my dogs every day."  I guess she didn't see the difference between us doing it together and her doing it alone, but I noticed!  Now, I can completely turn over the afternoon feedings to her when we get home from school ... what a great feeling to have a kid who's old enough - and willing - to help with chores!

I'm loving it!

Like Fat Pigs in the Sunshine

I know two people who are enjoying their Christmas presents!

  

Yesterday, Abby and Ginger were both trying to squeeze into the little patch of sunshine that was falling on the rug in the living room, so Katie Anne and I got the bright idea of dragging their new beds into the sun.  They immediately both fell asleep...

...until I started taking pictures.  Then, I got the quit it look from Ginger, so this was the last shot of our two happy pups!

Poor Little Ginger

Our little Ginger is sick!  Her right eye got terribly red, swollen, and teary over the weekend.  The vet think she's got a scratch or something in her eye, but it is so swollen they can't examine it.  She's on anti-inflammatory meds and antibiotics, and she's going back for a recheck on Saturday morning.  Poor little pup has to wear an Elizabethan collar until then to keep her from rubbing it.  She can't eat with it on or go up and down stairs.  Hopefully she'll be feeling better soon!

Hot Diggity Dogs!

Before: 

The Wooly Mammoth ... The Furry Ewock ... The Fuzzy Monster ... The Almost-Blind-With-Her-Own-Eyebrows Pitiful Pup

Before:

Sheddy von Sheddington ... Long in the Yellow Tooth ... Little Miss Halitosis

After:

The Sleek Gray Deer!

After:

Miss Breath and Teeth- So Fresh and So Clean-Clean!

The dogs are so happy they got groomed!

Wordless Wednesday

(almost wordless ... Katie Anne sets up an early morning doggy tea party before school)

Gives Me the Heebie-Jeebies

Early this morning, when I went to open the deck door and let the dogs out, I heard this crazy, creepy sound right outside the door. It sounded like some kind of rabid squirrel or something going crazy and screaming on the deck. And, I definitely heard something slamming repeatedly into the door.

So, there was no way in heck I was opening that door, which was not acceptable to Ginger... A) because she has to pee really bad first thing in the morning and B) because she, as official protector of the home and resident "wee-man syndrome" poster child, was determined to find the source of this horrid sound. Abby did not care about opening the door - she cares only about breakfast and how quickly it will be served to her.

With Ginger pressuring me for answers, and Abby pressuring me to quit staring out the window like a weirdo and feed her, I looked all around outside for the source of this horrible sound. I finally realized that this GIANT BUG was banging into the door very low to the ground. That was the source of the slamming and, I believed, the weird screaming sound. The bug would fly into the door, bounce and crash back into the deck a few feet away from the door, and lay there for a few seconds making the weird sound before trying again. I gave Ginger, who was raring to go, a quick pep talk and told her what was going on. Then, I very carefully cracked the door after the bug did one big slam and let my attack dog loose.

Ginger pounced on that screaming bug with both tiny paws. When it started flying and got off the ground, she batted it down with both paws, lunged at it, and chased it across a few deck boards as it skittered away. She then crushed it a few times with her paws again, throwing all of her fourteen pounds of body weight into it ... and mercifully the screaming sound ceased! Ginger had done it! HERO!

I let Ginger back in, fed the dogs, and let them back out, all while staring terrified out the window at this giant, creepy-as-heck bug. It was about three inches long and an inch and a half wide, very solid looking, with long glassy-looking wings. It was so scary! When I let the dogs out again, Ginger checked out her fresh kill ... AND PICKED IT UP IN HER MOUTH AND TOOK IT OFF THE DECK. Gross! I was glad it was off the deck, but I was hoping I could show Saunders because I knew he'd never believe me.

Well, this afternoon I got my chance. Katie Anne and I let both dogs out through the basement door, and then back in again through the deck... and Ginger had brought her little friend back up the stairs in her mouth. After I convinced her to spit it out by screaming, "Spit it out, Ginger! Good Lord - spit it out!!!!", I snuck outside with the digital camera and snapped these shots for Saunders proof and blogging enjoyment.

The bug's nasty belly:

I flipped it over for a top-of-the-body view:

Saunders got to see it himself when he got home because Ginger didn't mess with it any more, and he couldn't believe it! He thought I was exaggerating about how giant and creepy this bug is (and he didn't believe it was white when I described it), but I wasn't! Neither of us knows what kind of bug this is. I'm about to research it online, and I'll post what I find out.

UPDATE: Okay, after about an hour of internet research (when I definitely should be sleeping), I believe what we have here is a cicada. To be more precise, I believe we have a T. auletes variety. I am not sure about the specifics, but it looks a lot like pictures of the T. auletes, those are found in north Georgia, and it sure as heck sounded like this guy! Apparently, they are not dangerous, very rarely bite/sting people, and are actually kind of cool insects in theory. (Not in reality at 5:00 am, I can assure you.) They live underground for 2-13 years and emerge as nymphs before growing wings and flying around, scaring the heebie-jeebies out of people. I've got an email out to a bug expert to be sure, and I'll update again once I hear back from him. Now, off to bed!

Scrub, Snip, & Clip

Abby and Ginger got a much-needed grooming today. I got up and had them at PetSmart literally at the crack of dawn to get a shampoo, hair cut, nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning. They look super and smell great!

Before:












After:












So Much Better!

I'm a Squirrel Watcher...

Watch 'em walk on by... my my my...

Squirrels have invaded our new bird feeder from Doc and VJ. This has provided a source of great entertainment for Ginger and Katie Anne!

Courage

To quote one of my favorite parts of one of my favorite movies,

here's the Lion's monologue from The Wizard of Oz...

What makes a king out of a slave? Courage!
What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage!
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist,
or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage!
What makes the Sphinx the Seventh Wonder? Courage!
What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage!
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the ape in ape-ricot?
What have they got that I ain't got?
Courage!
You can say that again!

Why would I be reminded - or need to be inspired by -
this courageous speech?
Because, this morning, I received the kindest gift from
my little dog, Ginger...
What, you ask? She gave you a sleeping squirrel?
Not asleep, my friend, not asleep.

Katie Anne and I were going outside this morning to play. She noticed that there were ants on her slide as I was moving it from the pinestraw into the grass. When I turned around to grab the hose to rinse it off, Ginger was standing over her love offering... a little dearly departed outdoor friend.

I know there's no nicer or more respectful thing that a predatory animal, like a dog, can do for you than to share her kill, but - whew! It freaked me out! After we came inside, Katie Anne said, "That makes me SO SAD!" I knew that I had to get the squirrel off the patio before it got hot this afternoon, but I didn't know what to do. I called my dad to come help me, but it was not good news - he wasn't home. I called Saunders and asked him to come home from work and clean it up, but he said he couldn't.
Slowly, I realized... the cleanup of this little creature was up ... to ... me.

I am all about animals... love to adopt them, care for them, love them, clean up after them. No problem. However, touching animals after their little souls have floated up to animal heaven? Not. My. Thing. At. All. Whew- COURAGE was required! Lots and lots of courage! This was a time when I had to be an adult! No husband, no dad... just me and a mission that had to be carried out. I had to put the ape back in apricot and clean up the squirrel.

I armed myself with four trashbags, Lysol, my camera for a quick blog photo, and my insistent assistant Katie Anne. (Yes, four trashbags. You, like my husband, probably think that two of those were wasted.) I got the little guy, using two trashbags as a glove, and then double-bagged him in the other two bags. Then, I gave him a final resting place in the trash can. All without freaking, screaming, or otherwise spazzing out and scarring my little assistant for life.

COURAGE!
I can't believe I did it!

Ginger Lovin

Hence the reason why the Free Dogs to a Good Home post was tongue-in-cheek. Even though they're naughty, she's crazy about them.

PS- You can tell that these pictures are over a week old... both of these girls have had haircuts since then. But, they were so cute I had to use them!

Two Dogs, Free to a Good Home

Dog #1: Mixed Breed (Beagle/ Border Collie/ Mutt), approx. 15 years of age. Loves chocolate, sleeping, and digging holes in sod. Practices coprophagia and drinks a strangely excessive amount of water. Answers to the name "Abby".

Dog #2: Miniature schnauzer, 3.5 years of age. Loves to be fed by hand, shake profusely during thunderstorms, and bark when babies are napping. Answers to the name "Ginger", although her official name is Katie's Lil Gingerbread Cookie.

Both dogs - free to a good home.

Not really, but ... I'll just let these pictures speak for themselves.