October 25, 2008
Seven year old Travis, upon hearing that we won the bid to purchase our land, said, "I feel like a dog is just seven months away from being in my clutches."
Mommy (to then five year old Sam): "What is your favorite part about us buying land?"
Sam: "Dogs."
Mommy" "Well, what do you think you want to do when we live out there?"
Sam: "Play with my dogs."
We told them all along that as soon as we moved out there they could get a dog and for the past three years they have been diligently saving up their money. We have talked about dogs and how badly they want one almost every day. With the market being what it is and the reality that it might be a while before the dream of living on our land comes true, combined with the fact that our sweet boys aren't getting any younger and have proven that they have what it takes to love and train and care for a dog, Jimmy decided it was time to find them a puppy. We've spent that last ten months researching exactly what we want in a family dog and then waiting for just the right time (as in, not just after our sixth child was born) for a liter to be born with the breeder that we had chosen. Last April he told us that he would have some puppies in October and when he called to let us know that he had just what we were looking for we knew it was time to take the plunge.
So this morning we woke the kids early and told them we were going for a hike. That's not unusual for us, but when Travis asked where we were going and Jimmy told him we were driving to a mountain in GA Travis had this look on his face like we'd officially lost our minds. He said something to the effect of, "We have great hiking less than 30 minutes away. Why would we drive for 3 hours?" Jimmy promised him it would be his favorite "hike" ever. Knowing that they didn't have even the slightest clue that we had been looking for a puppy, much less had decided to go ahead with it, made it pretty much the hardest secret I've ever had to keep. Giving a gift that you know the recipient will love is a pretty great feeling, but surprising people with the desire of their heart (especially when those people are your own little people) pretty much just makes me want to melt into a puddle right on the spot.
(I will confess that as we were pulling up the driveway Jimmy mentioned the he felt as one might feel the very second they step off of the bridge they've decided to bungee jump off of. You know, where you're not exactly sure you've made a good decision but it's too late to turn back. ; )
When we arrived they all piled out and we had them gather behind the car where we asked if they knew why we were there. We had pulled up to a home and it was pretty obvious that we weren't there to hike. : ) When jimmy finally made the big announcement that we were there to meet and choose our new puppy it definitely took a minute for the reality to set in! Sam later told me that he thought Jimmy was kidding and that the only reason he knew it was true was because I was snapping pictures like crazy and saying, "It's true! It's true!" He said, "Mom, I knew you would never joke about something like that." : )
I'm not sure that any of us was prepared for the cuteness we would find when we made our way into the kennel where the puppies live. Seriously.
While we were all completely enthralled with this pile of sweetness, Jack had been walking around the garage area visiting with the other older puppies and checking the place out. He walked out of the garage for a mere second and, to my utter disgust and horror, returned proudly carrying a dead rat. Yes, it was a rat. A really big rat. And yes, it was dead. Very, very dead. I stood there completely frozen wanting to "rescue" my baby (who wouldn't have dreamed that he needed rescuing) but knowing there wasn't a chance in you-know-where that I was going to actually touch that thing, when the brave breeder swooped in and accepted Jack's offering and the brave breeders (embarrassed) wife swooped in and offered to go wash his hands. I asked her to wash them in boiling bleach. I still shudder every time I even think of it and all Jimmy can say is that he can't believe the one time I don't think to take a picture it's when our two year old shows up with a dead rat. If that kid doesn't come down with some crazy disease it will be a miracle.
Anyway, back to puppy selecting.....
After a lot of snuggles and finally making a tentative selection of the sweetest little male pup, we took a tour of their land and got to meet many of their dogs. Our pup's parents are Sammie and Diesel and I think they make a fine couple.
As we were gearing up to leave Travis asked Mr. Young what he would need to be doing in order to prepare for our puppy to come home in six weeks and Mr. Young told him that he would need a place to sleep, some healthy food and "a boy who is willin' to teach him everything he needs to know." He told Travis that these dogs are really smart and all they want to do is learn how to please their people. He told him that his puppy would be learning whether Travis was meaning to teach him or not, so he better know what he wants to teach him and be ready to do it. Then they shook hands.
As we were heading to the car I realized we were one kid short and I had a hunch I knew where I might find the missing one....
After we got started down the road I pulled a dog training book out of my bag and handed it back to Travis. After reading a while he commented on how he thought it might be hard to discipline and train our dog in ways that the pup might not understand are for his own good and out of Travis' love for him and I knew exactly what he meant.
We're really glad we "jumped" and can't wait to bring our newest addition home in a few weeks.
Giving good gifts joy....
(oh, and I just want to add one last picture of my Knight in Shining Armor who valiantly scraped dog poo off of my shoe. A pooper scooper (for the kids to use!) is at the top of the necessities list!)
Seven year old Travis, upon hearing that we won the bid to purchase our land, said, "I feel like a dog is just seven months away from being in my clutches."
Mommy (to then five year old Sam): "What is your favorite part about us buying land?"
Sam: "Dogs."
Mommy" "Well, what do you think you want to do when we live out there?"
Sam: "Play with my dogs."
We told them all along that as soon as we moved out there they could get a dog and for the past three years they have been diligently saving up their money. We have talked about dogs and how badly they want one almost every day. With the market being what it is and the reality that it might be a while before the dream of living on our land comes true, combined with the fact that our sweet boys aren't getting any younger and have proven that they have what it takes to love and train and care for a dog, Jimmy decided it was time to find them a puppy. We've spent that last ten months researching exactly what we want in a family dog and then waiting for just the right time (as in, not just after our sixth child was born) for a liter to be born with the breeder that we had chosen. Last April he told us that he would have some puppies in October and when he called to let us know that he had just what we were looking for we knew it was time to take the plunge.
So this morning we woke the kids early and told them we were going for a hike. That's not unusual for us, but when Travis asked where we were going and Jimmy told him we were driving to a mountain in GA Travis had this look on his face like we'd officially lost our minds. He said something to the effect of, "We have great hiking less than 30 minutes away. Why would we drive for 3 hours?" Jimmy promised him it would be his favorite "hike" ever. Knowing that they didn't have even the slightest clue that we had been looking for a puppy, much less had decided to go ahead with it, made it pretty much the hardest secret I've ever had to keep. Giving a gift that you know the recipient will love is a pretty great feeling, but surprising people with the desire of their heart (especially when those people are your own little people) pretty much just makes me want to melt into a puddle right on the spot.
(I will confess that as we were pulling up the driveway Jimmy mentioned the he felt as one might feel the very second they step off of the bridge they've decided to bungee jump off of. You know, where you're not exactly sure you've made a good decision but it's too late to turn back. ; )
When we arrived they all piled out and we had them gather behind the car where we asked if they knew why we were there. We had pulled up to a home and it was pretty obvious that we weren't there to hike. : ) When jimmy finally made the big announcement that we were there to meet and choose our new puppy it definitely took a minute for the reality to set in! Sam later told me that he thought Jimmy was kidding and that the only reason he knew it was true was because I was snapping pictures like crazy and saying, "It's true! It's true!" He said, "Mom, I knew you would never joke about something like that." : )
I'm not sure that any of us was prepared for the cuteness we would find when we made our way into the kennel where the puppies live. Seriously.
While we were all completely enthralled with this pile of sweetness, Jack had been walking around the garage area visiting with the other older puppies and checking the place out. He walked out of the garage for a mere second and, to my utter disgust and horror, returned proudly carrying a dead rat. Yes, it was a rat. A really big rat. And yes, it was dead. Very, very dead. I stood there completely frozen wanting to "rescue" my baby (who wouldn't have dreamed that he needed rescuing) but knowing there wasn't a chance in you-know-where that I was going to actually touch that thing, when the brave breeder swooped in and accepted Jack's offering and the brave breeders (embarrassed) wife swooped in and offered to go wash his hands. I asked her to wash them in boiling bleach. I still shudder every time I even think of it and all Jimmy can say is that he can't believe the one time I don't think to take a picture it's when our two year old shows up with a dead rat. If that kid doesn't come down with some crazy disease it will be a miracle.
Anyway, back to puppy selecting.....
After a lot of snuggles and finally making a tentative selection of the sweetest little male pup, we took a tour of their land and got to meet many of their dogs. Our pup's parents are Sammie and Diesel and I think they make a fine couple.
As we were gearing up to leave Travis asked Mr. Young what he would need to be doing in order to prepare for our puppy to come home in six weeks and Mr. Young told him that he would need a place to sleep, some healthy food and "a boy who is willin' to teach him everything he needs to know." He told Travis that these dogs are really smart and all they want to do is learn how to please their people. He told him that his puppy would be learning whether Travis was meaning to teach him or not, so he better know what he wants to teach him and be ready to do it. Then they shook hands.
As we were heading to the car I realized we were one kid short and I had a hunch I knew where I might find the missing one....
After we got started down the road I pulled a dog training book out of my bag and handed it back to Travis. After reading a while he commented on how he thought it might be hard to discipline and train our dog in ways that the pup might not understand are for his own good and out of Travis' love for him and I knew exactly what he meant.
We're really glad we "jumped" and can't wait to bring our newest addition home in a few weeks.
Giving good gifts joy....
(oh, and I just want to add one last picture of my Knight in Shining Armor who valiantly scraped dog poo off of my shoe. A pooper scooper (for the kids to use!) is at the top of the necessities list!)