Kids and Dogs

We (meaning I) am getting lots of good morning exercise with the addition of Neico. Every morning he and Aspen both get up around 6:15, so after we've all had breakfast we head out for a run/hike/walk while Mercedes is left sleeping. Our route consists of one of four directions; each with a different park as the destination. This morning we hiked (with Aspen in the baby pack) a mile and half one direction on the trail behind our house with Aspen singing her cute little songs in my ear and Neico sniffing everything that looks interesting. I keep promising myself that our religious morning exercise will slowly burn away the saddlebags that keep attaching themselves to my thighs. Yesterday we went to a park and Aspen suggested we play on the Harry Potter; huh? We straddled the teeter totter and Aspen began singing "Teeter totter, Harry Potter, wash your face in dirty water." So thats a Harry Potter!
Aspen, for the longest time, always insisted on wearing her purple shoes (Croc's; which I loathe, but are cute on kids) everywhere we went. Now she won't go anywhere without her yellow 'blip-blops'.

Scott decided to wear Neico out with Mercedes bike last night before an outing to Farm Country and then the new Ice Age movie.

Baby Boy Flygare

I gave in. How could I not after the allergist told my little girl not to pet or play with her cats anymore? She sat in the back of the car crying and then said she was so mad; mad that she can't play with her kitties and mad at Daddy that he gave her his allergies. I told her just be happy he only gave you HALF his allergies. Then I did the unthinkable; mentioned to a dog crazy husband that I'd been thinking that a dog might be good for our girls; hypothetically. I'd done a little research on breeds and so immediately he asked to show him what I'd found. Before I knew it we had appointments to see 4 different litters. What did I DO!

Meet Neico (nee - ko). A 9 week old male black tri Australian Shepherd. If we ever gave birth to a son Scott insisted we name him Neico; which I'm not all that fond of. I said here's your chance to have your boy named Neico. He's confident, smart, sticks to Mercedes like glue and cute as a button. He went rockclimbing with us the first day we had him and completely wore him out. He sleeps in Mercedes room in his crate and his first night didn't even make a peep until 5am (until guess who took him out to potty and play). Now I have that extra bit of motivation to get outside - or deal with a hyper, neurotic dog. He even looks a bit like our first mutt we adopted after we got married; we still miss you Chella!