We are Living Lawge: We've Been Robbed! (and other news)

OK, so we haven't been ROBBED...but we do have a Bandit in our house (I know, I am hilarious!)

Meet Bandit, the nine year old Boxer who now lives with us.

How did we ever end up with another dog? Those of you keeping count, this would make #3 Well, the problem with #1 and #2 is that they were puppies. We were told so many times by animal SPCA type people that we HAD to get a puppy because we had young children. There was no way to guarantee what an older dog would do unless it grew up with them. Well, this has officially been proven wrong. Older dogs come trained and ready to go. They don't chew or pee in your house. They love to just hang out and aren't crazy full of energy. I sometimes forget Bandit is even here!

We told the kids that we were "dog sitting." The dog would be here for two weeks while his family was on vacation. We did that to make sure that I could handle a dog. I couldn't bear to break the kid's hearts again. At the end of the two weeks, we realized having Bandit was very little work, and the kids loved him. As you can see even the scaredy cat twins are all over him. So we casually let it out that Bandit was ours one night. The kids JUMPED for joy and danced around. Bailey and Emma are great at taking care of him, with what little care he needs. He's a dream dog and Bailey is living his own dream of owning one. As ai type the two are cuddling on the floor watching t.v.

Now, to recap other events through pictures:

I have been so busy prepping for Girl's Camp, there are many Pinterest inspired projects waiting for me. I made this in between some girls camp signs. It says, "The future is as bright as your Faith." I stenciled it on my IKEA curtains.

Another Pinterest inspiration- Emma's crazy hair for Crazy Hair day at school. Bailey's was my idea. They were both huge hits at school. We are now on summer break- woo hoo!

Bailey (heading into 6th grade this year) is Mr. Super grown up. He ties his own tie for Church, and irons his own shirts. He looks like mini Ben getting ready for Church.

Nathan is so ready for school to start, even though we only just started the summer. He loves to copy words written down and draw. Although this he figured out how to do on his own.

He also learned to ride on two wheels instantly. We took them off and he did this in about 30 seconds. He is a crazy man now going everywhere on two wheels. He calls himself a super hero:)

Emma asked for a shirt to use as a yearbook for the end of the year. I gave her one of my old shirts and she came home with tons of signatures. Her most exciting signature on the shirt? The one from Ian, our neighbor around the corner, carpool buddy and 12 year old boy....

Emma: Mom, Guess who signed my shirt?!

Mom: Who?

Emma: IAN!

Emma and Ian have a love hate relationship where they tease each other like crazy. We think this might be trouble later...sigh. Although Ian's parents are our friends, so we'd at least like the inlaws.

Speaking of growing up, Emma has just started reading Harry Potter. This is how she fell asleep the other night.

We also finished our front yard yesterday! My dad built a deck for me for graduation and we needed to finish the surrounding area. I hated the sprinkler/hose area with a passion. So when backpacking plans didn't work out, we spent the day on the yard.