Piper Pup

The newest addition to our family is Piper. 
Bryce has nicknamed her Piper, Pooper, Pipes, and Milkshake.

She is the "daughter" of Georgie and River, Courtney's Standard Poodles. Don't they look so "in love"... :) 

Before I met Courtney, I was never a fan any poodle...let alone a  Standard  Poodle. Things changed when I was introduced to her sweet Abby. I fell in love with that pup and the way she would always rest her chin on my knee and look me in the eyes. Abby had an old spirit. She was crazy smart, obedient, and had nothing but love to give.

Sadly, Abby passed away. Courtney's other pup, Georgie, had finally grown out of her rambunctious puppy state and began putting her chin on my knee. I was smitten. 

I had never entertained the thought of getting a standard of my own, until one Spring day when Courtney and her sister, Nikki, were visiting with me up on Donkey Hill. Bryce was running down the driveway, with "Georgie". They were both in heaven. 

Bryce had only known lap dogs...who aren't interested in running and playing. They would much rather sit and be petted all day. 

The three of us sat on the driveway and started talking about the possibility of us accepting one of her puppies into our family. After contact with the breeder, Becky, it was decided that we would "foster" a pup...meaning that she would be our family dog...but I would co-own her with breeder and I would leave her "intact" for future breeding that Becky would determine. She is a wonderful, responsible, breeder...who has a passion for genetics and breeding for temperament. She's amazing. Click Here for her website. 

On March 26, I was blessed to be there when she was born. There were 8 puppies. 5 boys and 3 girls. As silly as it may sound...I cried when she was born. I didn't even know she was my pup...but there were tears when I held her. She was the 2nd girl...and a middle "child"...just like me :)

I held her in my hand and briskly rubbed her with a towel to get everything going. I couldn't believe how tiny she was as I held her.

We went to Courtney's house every day to hold the pups. I still didn't know which Pup I would end up getting...but my favorites were Hazel and Piper.

We would help with baths and Bryce would "socialize" the pups.

The puppies grew and grew. Growing more curious and full of energy every day.

They would run until their legs gave out.

After meeting with the breeder, we decided that Piper had the best temperament/energy level for our family's needs. 

This pic was taken the day that Courtney and I dropped the rest of the pups off to go back to Texas. She was officially "ours". A trip to the pet store...lots of hugs...and riding on a pillow all the way back home. She was destined to be the princess of the poodle world.

She stayed at Courtney's house for a few more weeks, to continue her socialization with her other dogs.

We would still see her every day and she would meet us at the Donkey Hill pool for dips with her mama.

One day I got a call from Courtney, telling me that Piper had been wrestling with one of her dogs and her leg had been injured. As it turns out, she had a break in her growth plate. The silver lining was that she got to wear an adorable splint.

She ended up being spoiled even more for her injury. She was good with it.

The day finally arrived for her splint to be removed.

She was back in the pool before she knew, doing physical therapy on her weakened leg.

Courtney got her the cutest life vest.

She was also back to haircuts...

 And front seat car rides...

And being handcuffed by Bryce.  Doesn't she look thrilled?

Courtney has been teaching me how to groom her.

I still haven't mastered the some "tasks" that Courtney has obviously mastered...as seen below:)

We feel so blessed to have Piper in our family. 

She loves to laugh...

She loves to nap with Bryce and Patty Cake, the cat.

She is a smart pup. She passed a 6 week obedience course in 3 weeks. She is working towards her Canine Good Citizen award and will eventually be certified as a therapy dog. We are also toying with the idea of doing agility with her.

She is best friends with Bryce...the little boy who has been around since she was born.

She is so special to us. 

We love our Piper Girl.

Back to Preschool...for the last time.

Earlier this month, Bryce returned for his last year of Preschool. (sniff sniff)

 It was so weird dropping him off, knowing it was the last time I would ever bring one of my bear cubs for their first day of Preschool, again.

I am completely in love with his school bag, which shows what a well rounded chap he is. Googly eyes, golf, fish, dinosaur, race car, motorcycle, Toy Story trim,

 and a prancing poodle.

I was expecting a lot of fanfare when I brought him to school, but there was none to be had. 

This was old hat to him. He was an experienced Preschooler.

He was just happy to back in his comfortable school routine. 

He was horrified, in all of his 4 year old maturity, when I took pictures of him playing on the circle time rug. He kept whispering, "Maaaawm.....I know how to do dis alweady."

Eventually, he caved, and humored me with a smile.

I kissed the top of his head and wished him a happy day....and a happy day, he had.

Challenge 1: Kitchen

I must be crazy, but I recently committed to a 14-week challenge through a blog that I love, "A Bowl Full of Lemons". If you ever lack motivation - one look at her beautiful pics - and you will have enough organizational juice coursing through your veins to get you to jump into a project head first.

Here is her proposed 14 week schedule. It's not too late to join if anyone else wants to join in the fun! I will be posting my area each week, to keep myself accountable

WEEK #1 (THE KITCHEN) CHECKLIST:

1. Clean out and organize all cabinets.

2. Clean out and organize all drawers.

3. Purge everything that is not used, expired, doesn't belong, collecting dust.

4. Clean out & organize fridge & freezer.

5.  Mop, wipe down cabinet doors, clean counter tops & tables.

6.  Take everything off the refrigerator door.  It makes the kitchen look messy. 

7. Clean all appliances.

Every drawer and cabinet was completely emptied.

It was a mess.

But not for long. 

(If an entire week doesn't count as "long")

*I must say, though, that I disagree that there can be nothing on the fridge. 

I am a mama...if my cub makes me something...I am going to display it proudly. I disagree that it makes a kitchen look cluttered. I prefer to think that it makes it look like a family lives there. The good thing is that my fridge is only magnetized on the sides :)

There was a lot of Take-Out going on that week.

My favorite new area is my 

LUNCH MAKING STATION

 (Everything you need for lunches in one spot. This has made the process go much faster in the mornings. One spot for baggies, napkins, plastic utensils, wet wipes, notes from mama, and my newest addition (not pictured) after lunch mints.

CEREAL STATION

PLATES AND GLASSES (i NEED TO UNLOAD THE DISHWASHER, OBVIOUSLY)

UTENSILS

SERVING UTENSILS

GRATING, PEELING, AND CANDY MAKING

(yes it IS necessary to have that many peelers)

BAKING DRAWER

POTS

FRYING PANS AND LIDS

BAKING PANS / COOLING RACKS

The "NOT-SO" Junky Junk Drawer 

(Lighters, Batteries, Gum, Tissues, and Dog Bones of course)

COOKING/BAKING CABINET

PEN DRAWER

KID DISHES DRAWER

PITCHERS AND GLASS 

SERVING DISHES/PLATTERS

MEDICINE/VITAMINS

(Divided into "Ouchies", Adult Meds, Kid Meds, and "Bites, Burns, and Stings"

Vitamins on a Lazy Susan for easy daily access.

FREEZER EMPTIED AND CLEANED

FRIDGE EMPTIED AND CLEANED

FREEZER REFILLED AND ORGANIZED

FRIDGE REFILLED AND ORGANIZED

One of my favorite impulse buys when I was pregnant with Bryce. QVC....air circulating containers that greatly extend life of produce :) 

I won't bore you further with pics of dish rag, phone book, and pot holder drawers. 

You get the idea, right?

The finished product (minus needing to change a light bulb and taking out the trash, of course).

That's work for Tommy T.

Everyone needs to contribute to feel part of the team.

In the pic below, that isn't a puddle. It's Piper's tail :)

My favorite counter top corner.

My blue bird and picture of Mary and Martha with Jesus.

Keeps it all in perspective.

Next post...the garage. Prepare to itch.